Brittany Ferries rules out price hikes or fuel shortages due to Iran war

Brittany Ferries has issued a promise to passengers that sailings will not be ruined by fuel shortages or soaring prices this year due to the Iran war.

Suppliers have guaranteed the free flow of all maritime fuels – Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), HFO (heavy fuel oil) and MGO (marine gas oil), according to the company. 

Ferries departing from Portsmouth, Poole or Plymouth to five destinations in France, two in northern Spain and Guernsey in the Channel Islands are “guaranteed” to run throughout the year.​

The boss of Brittany Ferries slammed competitors that have applied “knee-jerk” price rises in response to the crisis in the Middle East. 

The company claimed that this shows that families are already abandoning the volatility of travel by air to the certainty of holidays by sea this summer.

Brittany Ferries reported a 37% rise in bookings in the last two weeks covering travel in July and August. 

A statement said: “Prudent airlines and ferry companies like Brittany Ferries hedge the vast majority of their fuel contracts. 

“That means the price is set in advance, sometimes months. Fuel costs change little for the operator, regardless of fluctuations on the wholesale market.”

Chief executive Christophe Mathieu said: “Today we make a clear promise to customers. 

“Firstly, if you have booked with us, or are considering doing so, we will get you to a beautiful and safe holiday destination this year. Period.

“Secondly, we will play no part in profiteering or seeking to recover losses from a gamble gone wrong, as some appear to be doing. 

“The cost of our holidays rose by inflation earlier this year, and by inflation alone. 

“There will be no further rises in the weeks or months ahead. 

“Conflict or other global uncertainty should not be used as the basis for knee-jerk price hikes: it is absolutely the unacceptable face of capitalism.”