Brittany Ferries has issued a major update to passengers in Europe as the crisis in the Middle East continues to threaten global fuel supplies. The France-based firm promised travellers it would not raise prices in the coming months or make cancellations linked to supply disruption, despite Iran's continued stranglehold on major shipping route the Strait of Hormuz.

The company said it had already secured the "vast majority" of its fuel at a fixed price in a process known as hedging, designed to limit the impact of rising costs. Brittany Ferries' suppliers have also reportedly "guaranteed the free-flow of all maritime fuels", allowing it to be confident about successful travel between the UK, France and Spain over the summer. CEO Christophe Mathieu accused other travel firms of "profiteering" by failing to hedge their supplies and "looking to others to cover their losses" like "bad gamblers".

His comments came after rival ferry operator DFDS told the Jersey Evening Post that it would attempt to absorb higher costs but "ultimately, we are going to have to share that pain until prices drop again".

Airlines including Virgin Atlantic have already imposed fuel surcharges on passengers in response to higher oil prices, while others such as KLM have cancelled flights amid fears of supply shortages.

Mr Mathieu said: "If you have booked with us, or are considering doing so, we will get you to a beautiful and safe holiday destination this year. Period.

"Secondly, we will play no part in profiteering or seeking to recover losses from a gamble gone wrong, as some appear to be doing."

He added: "The cost of our holidays rose by inflation earlier this year, and by inflation alone.

"There will be no further rises in the weeks or months ahead.

"Conflict or other global uncertainty should never be used as the basis to hike prices.

"It is absolutely the unacceptable face of capitalism."

Brittany Ferries also said it had recorded a 37% increase in reservations over the past fortnight for sailings in July and August, which it claimed indicated many families were "abandoning the volatility of travel by air".