In an email to customers, Paul Luxon said that question marks remained over what travel would be allowed to the country, which has administered relatively few vaccinations and is still in the grips of a third lockdown.
He warned that the number of sailings between the islands and St Malo would not return to normal until next year.
The firm is, though, more optimistic about its UK services, having seen a rise in interest in its UK-bound high-speed crossings, which are due to resume on 21 May.
Mr Luxon said: ‘Jersey and Guernsey are starting to relax their restrictions, which is promising. Both islands are keeping to their published roadmaps, which gives everyone genuine cause for optimism. There has been an increase in booking interest for travel by sea, so we hope the islands make the most of the flourishing staycation market in the UK and
show British holidaymakers what they have been missing.’
But Mr Luxon warned that the French route, which is to be serviced by a Brittany Ferries high-speed vessel renamed Condor Voyager, was facing longer-term disruption.
‘For the Channel Islands –France routes, we are watching with interest but question marks remain over what travel will be allowed this summer and what restrictions may apply; also what the passenger appetite is for using France and the Continent as a holiday destination,’ he said. ‘France is, after all, in a third lockdown, and while President Macron will provide a recovery roadmap shortly, there is still the issue that the country has a relatively low level of vaccinations administered, which means it is unclear what ongoing restrictions may be applied to travellers.’
He added: ‘For these reasons, we are likely to have to run a much reduced timetable and frequency of service in and out of France for a significant part of 2021.
‘Hopefully, things can return to something nearer normality in 2022.’
