Brittany Ferries Confirms Daily St Malo Service in New Peak Timetable

Brittany Ferries executives have confirmed the company’s plan to run a daily service to St Malo, France, during the peak season, as part of its upcoming year’s timetables. Reservations for these services will be available starting Tuesday, 26 November, at 17:00 GMT. The firm, which holds the majority stake in Condor, is scheduled to provide a weekly sailing to Jersey from 28 March, a frequency the States of Guernsey described as “not yet optimal.” This development follows the Government of Jersey’s initiation of a new tender process to secure a ferry operator for the coming 15 years, subsequent to Guernsey’s choice of Brittany Ferries. The company, which is the majority shareholder of Condor, intends to deploy three vessels for its services: Islander, Voyager, and Clipper. The implications for the Commodore Goodwill and Condor Liberation, which previously served Channel Island ports, remain undetermined. The States indicated that the agreement with Brittany Ferries is expected to be signed on Tuesday, 26 November. Commenting on the introduction of the new schedules, Economic Development President Deputy Neil Inder stated: “We didn’t want to wait any longer than necessary before we and Brittany gave the community the certainty it needs and deserves.” Christophe Matthieu, chief executive of Brittany Ferries, remarked that the new schedule is anticipated to bolster the tourism sector. He added: “We are committed to providing islanders with convenient options to secure their journeys.” Commencing March 28, 2025, the Condor Voyager is scheduled to run a high-speed service departing St Malo at 08:00 for Guernsey, continuing to Poole, then returning to Guernsey, and finally back to St Malo. On Wednesdays, the Voyager’s outward journey will bypass Poole, making a stop in Jersey instead. The Condor Islander will provide a freight and passenger service six days per week, traveling from Guernsey to Portsmouth. On Saturdays, this vessel will travel from Guernsey to St Malo, subsequently returning to Guernsey. The States stated that the Commodore Clipper is intended to “provide resilience and operate back-up services as and when required on all routes.” Inder affirmed that “sailings will not be subject to tidal variations” and will maintain “good frequency without any notable increase in cost” within the framework of a Guernsey-exclusive service managed by Brittany Ferries. He also mentioned that the “door is still open” for Jersey if it decides to select Brittany Ferries. Stephen Rouxel, president of Guernsey’s Chamber of Commerce, commented that the updated timetable “presents an excellent opportunity to strengthen connections with our French neighbours.” He indicated that this would stimulate tourism and trade, specifically by increasing the volume of French imports. Notwithstanding his positive outlook on the consistent connections to St Malo, Mr. Rouxel noted that certain aspects of the new schedules posed challenges. He elaborated: “These include the loss of economies of scale, added complexity for freight logistics, and the current absence of an inter-island service.” He concluded: “Despite these issues, we are committed to collaboration and working together to make this transition a success for our community.”