Brittany Ferries urges French government to drop quarantine plans
A FERRY firm operating from Portsmouth is calling on France to scrap reciprocal quarantine plans after the country was hit by the UK’s new travel policy.
As of 4am Saturday, anyone travelling to the UK from France will need to quarantine for 14 days.
French ministers have stated they are considering applying similar measures to anyone arriving from the UK, a move that would be ‘an exercise in self-harm’, according to the director of Brittany Ferries.
Christopher Mathieu, director general of the company, said: ‘This has already been a disastrous summer season for us and all the businesses in north west France that rely on the friendly British invasion each summer
‘It is why we are lobbying hard with our regional colleagues for government to drop reciprocal quarantine plans.
‘If such measures are implemented it would be an exercise in self-harm for France plc, damaging our business, as well as those of thousands of others in the regions we serve.’
It follows France’s secretary of state for European affairs, Clement Beaune, saying the UK government’s decision would lead to ‘reciprocal measures’ across the Channel.
He tweeted: ‘A British decision which we regret and which will lead to reciprocal measures, all in hoping for a return for normal as soon as possible.’
Brittany Ferries previously expected to carry around 240,000 passengers this summer, compared with around 780,000 for a normal year.
The company has warned of potential changes to schedules at the end of the summer, with passengers encouraged to check online for updates to services.
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