Hovertravel has announced that it is cutting both its Winter and Summer timetables in response to a continued decline in passenger numbers and economic conditions, including changes announced in Labour’s budget.
Following a comprehensive commercial review, the cross-Solent operator has confirmed a number of changes. It comes just weeks after Island Echo reported the company had filed a £750,000 loss and was looking to make 17 staff members redundant.
It has been confirmed today (Wednesday) that the last sailing from Southsea will be 18:45 in the Winter and 19:30 in the Summer – a big departure from days gone by when the hovers used to run until 22:00.
At present, Hovertravel runs from 06:15 in the morning (weekdays) until 19:45. But from 17th February, the first hover of the day from Ryde – on both weekdays and weekends – will be 06:30 and the last hover from Southsea will be at 18:45.
From 7th April, when the Summer timetable comes into play, the first hover will also be at 06:30 with operations continuing until just 19:30.
Hovertravel says that it will retain the flexibility to add extra services during the day if customer demand increases. Furthermore, the company says for events such as Victorious and Pompey home matches they are committed to offering later flights, as required.
Although the firm says it can add extra flights, it is currently only operating the Ryde-Southsea service with one craft. Solent Flyer is at Portchester as part of its annual maintenance and refit programme where the undercover facility at the Griffon Hoverwork shipyard is being used for ‘a variety of maintenance tasks’.
Today’s news comes just weeks after it was announced 300 jobs are to be lost at Vestas. There was another blow on Boxing Day when it was announced Wyld in Newport had closed with immediate effect and earlier this month it was confirmed Snows Isle of Wight is to close on 5th February due to economic circumstances.
Just last week Kingswood in Bembridge closed its doors with immediate effect as a result of its parent company, Inspiring Learning Group, being placed into administration.
Lower your fares….. To expensive for such a quick crossing. Getting bums on seats is more important at the moment.
I remember the good old days when a return fare
was £8
Why travel empty, they should advertise £10
return fares for Island residents and Southsea residents.
Bet they would start making money.
your commuters are the bread & butter lose them and you become nothing more than a seasonal attraction for some curious visitors
When Accounts Clerk Rachel’s budget kicks in,
there will be job losses at a rate the country as ever
seen.
If the fare was affordable, it would be packed. When will the so called economist learn, every time they a full craft of passengers paying half price is better than a quarter full craft of passengers paying full price?
So true.
Oh just call it a day and shut shop it’s done put it out of it’s missery..