Brittany Ferries has reported a 12% increase in passenger numbers on its Ireland-France and Ireland-Spain routes.
The ferry company said a total of 213,725 passengers travelled on its Irish routes between 2023 and 2024, reflecting continued demand for sea travel between Ireland, France, and Spain.
It also recorded an 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, while freight volumes surged by 73% on its Ireland-France routes.
Brittany Ferries also resumed its Cork to Roscoff service last week, marking the beginning of the seasonal schedule.
The company said these sailings are a key part of its ongoing commitment to enhancing connectivity between Ireland and France, providing both leisure and freight customers with increased travel options.
It said its 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 jumped by 9%.
The company also said that freight transport saw a "remarkable" increase on Ireland-France routes, with a 73% rise in freight vehicles, reaching 13,337 units transported.
It said this highlights the increasing importance of the direct Ireland-France link for logistics, particularly as businesses continue to navigate post-Brexit supply chains.
Hugh Bruton, General Manager of Brittany Ferries in Ireland, said the 12% increase in passengers demonstrates the growing popularity of the company's services and reflects the ongoing shift towards comfortable, sustainable, and efficient ferry travel.
"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," he said.
"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," he added.
