P&O Ferries are cancelling the Portsmouth-Bilbao route from the end of September 2010.
The last sailing will take place on September 27th. Customers with bookings for later dates will be contacted and offered a refund or alternative crossing.
According to a statement on the P&O Ferries website, the service has been running at a loss. A spokesperson said: “despite our most concerted efforts can see no way to make the service financially viable.”
A total of 252 staff work on board the Pride of Bilbao boat which is being taken out of service, and a further 13 are employed on the ground at Bilbao.
On a more positive note, Brittany Ferries are now sailing 4 times a week from the UK to Spain. They are running 3 crossings a week from Portsmouth to Santander, and once a week from Plymouth to Santander.
Santander is only around 1 hour drive from Bilbao, making it a viable alternative for anyone affected by the P&O Ferries stoppage.
