UPDATED: Freedom 90, a hovercraft that has been serving Hovertravel’s Ryde to Southsea route for over 25 years, has been removed from the fleet.
The cross-Solent operator has confirmed that the AP1-88 craft has been retired with immediate effect. She left Ryde for Southampton yesterday lunchtime (Monday).
Within hours of Freedom 90’s departure a shuttle service was put in place due to skirt damage on Solent Flyer, 1 of 2 craft that will now solely serve the 10-minute crossing. It’s also understood that a door issue later developed on the sister craft, Island Flyer.
Many have taken to social media to express their concern about Hovertravel’s ability to run a reliable service given the track record of the 2 Flyers, which have been in and out of service since their introduction in 2016.
However, a spokesperson for Hovertravel has said on Facebook:
“Island Flyer and Solent Flyer can operate the timetable and, as always intended, Hovertravel is now a two-craft business.
“As you will appreciate maintaining two different types of Hovercraft is expensive and impractical, especially as Freedom 90 is over 30 years old. Our engineering team can now focus solely on maintaining and enhancing the performance of the 12000s”.
The retirement of the 28-year-old hovercraft marks the end of the AP1-88 era, which has been a part of Island line for several decades. Sadly, there was no fanfare to say farewell to Freedom 90 and the ‘88s.
Last night Hovertravel announced a new priority boarding lane at each terminal, which has been introduced for the first time this morning.
Customers at both Ryde and Southsea will now see a line to the left of the boarding gates which is where season card and travel card holders will be invited to board every day and, in the event of a shuttle service, Priority Card holders will take priority where seats permit.
Loretta Lale, Head of Commercial at Hovertravel says:
“We are always looking for ways to enhance the service we give to customers and as well as listening to our passengers, we also regularly review how other transport businesses add value to their regular travellers. We have introduced our new priority boarding areas, so we can ensure our loyal and regular customers enjoy the best possible experience with us.”
Additionally, the area will also be used for Hovercare customers who have pre-booked Hovercare assistance.
The new priority boarding benefit only applies to customers who have booked on a flight, as Priority card holders not booked on a service will not be boarded in place of other passengers who are booked and in the terminal.
UPDATE WEDNESDAY: Hovertravel have issued a brief statement on the matter, saying:
“Freedom 90 has left our operational fleet and will be stored at Griffon for the foreseeable future. Island Flyer and Solent Flyer are operating the timetable.
“Maintaining two different types of hovercraft is expensive and impractical, especially as Freedom 90 is over 25 years old. Our engineering team can now focus solely on maintaining and enhancing the performance of the 12000s”.
