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Brittany Ferries passenger numbers up 12% as turnover hits €516m
Passenger numbers on Brittany Ferries jumped 12% in 2024 while freight volumes between Ireland and France surged 73%, the company announced on Monday.
The ferry operator said consolidated turnover rose to €516m in 2024, up 6.5% on the 2023 figure. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) was slightly down at €46.8m, compared with 2023 (€53.3m), partly due to effects of the ETS emission trading scheme, the introduction of which cost the company €8m.
Brittany Ferries reported a year of strong growth on its Ireland-France and Ireland-Spain routes, with a notable 12% increase in passenger numbers compared to the previous year. In total, 213,725 passengers travelled on the company’s Irish routes between 2023 and 2024.
Freight transport saw a remarkable increase on Ireland-France routes, with a 73% rise in freight vehicles, reaching 13,337 units transported.
"The strong performance of our freight operations also highlights the essential role we play in connecting Ireland with mainland Europe, providing vital trade links post-Brexit. Looking ahead, we remain committed to further enhancing our services and investing in our fleet to meet the evolving needs of our passengers and freight partners," said Brittany Ferries in Ireland general manager Hugh Bruton.
The company recorded a significant increase in the number of sailings, up 27% year-on-year, with 567 crossings across all routes. The number of tourism vehicles transported rose by 16% to 80,497.
Last week, Brittany Ferries resumed its Cork to Roscoff service last week, marking the beginning of the seasonal schedule.
The company’s Ireland-France services continue to see increasing demand, with 151,490 passengers travelling in 2023-2024, a 3% rise compared to the previous year. On the Ireland-Spain route, passenger numbers grew by 9%.
Tourism vehicle numbers have also risen in parallel with passenger growth, up 6% on Ireland-France routes and 10% on Ireland-Spain services.
“We are delighted to see another year of strong growth in our Irish routes. The 12% increase in passengers demonstrates the growing popularity of our services and reflects the ongoing shift towards comfortable, sustainable, and efficient ferry travel," said Mr Bruton.
