The number of people taking pets between the UK and Europe fell in 2019 due to Brexit worries, a leading ferry operator says.
Brittany Ferries saw a “significant” drop in the number of dogs and cats carried between the UK and France and Spain despite six consecutive years of growth and the addition of more pet-friendly cabins to its 13-ship fleet.
More than 100,000 pets were expected to travel with the company in 2019, but only 88,100 dogs and cats made the voyage across the English Channel or Bay of Biscay. That’s a drop of about 8% on 2018 figures.
Brittany Ferries said thousands of owners held back due to worries about taking animals abroad.
Pet vaccinations, additional checks upon arrival abroad and the validity of the pet passport scheme were concerns raised throughout the year.
Overall, during Brittany Ferries’ summer period, July to September, there was a 6.6% downturn in passenger numbers.
Routes linking Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth with destinations in France suffered the most.
However, the company believes passengers will return in 2020 and it said that, with a large Tory majority in the House of Commons, pet owners’ concerns will not apply during the Brexit transition year ahead.
In 2020 there will be no additional checks or administration. That’s because the prime minister’s deal has been passed by parliament and should become law in January 2020.
A transition period will follow until the end of next year, during which borders can be crossed as normal and pet passports will continue to apply.
“Passengers with pets rely on Brittany Ferries to carry them seamlessly across the channel, sometimes many times a year,” said Christophe Mathieu Brittany Ferries chief executive. “Throughout 2019 we did our best to offer reassurance, but many people were confused and concerned, so chose to stay at home rather than take to the seas.
“Today however, turbulent waters have calmed for the next 12 months at least. Nothing should change during the Brexit transition year. And that means you can book a 2020 trip with confidence, whether you own a pet or not.”
Brittany Ferries began operations in 1973. Today its fleet includes ships connecting France, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain.
It operates from three ports in the UK: Plymouth, Portsmouth, and Poole. It carries about 2.5million passengers every year, as well as 210,000 freight units.
In November 2019, Brittany Ferries bought Channel Islands-based Condor Ferries after forming a consortium with a major investment fund.
French-owned Brittany Ferries linked up with the Columbia Threadneedle European Sustainable Infrastructure Fund (ESIF) to snaffle the smaller Condor Ferries for an undisclosed sum.
The consortium reached an agreement to acquire 100% of Condor Ferries from Australian company Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA). Macquarie bought Condor Ferries in 2008 for an undisclosed sum, thought to be about £260million.
Contracts have been signed and the deal is expected to be executed following scrutiny by relevant regulatory authorities. Brittany Ferries, which had run services to the Channel Islands in the past, will hold a minority stake.
