Hovertravel added 156 extra flights to July timetable

Additional services introduced to give customers more travel options during busy summer period

 Hovertravel added 156 extra flights to its timetable during July, providing additional capacity for customers travelling between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight as demand for travel increased during one of the busiest months of the year.

These additional flights represented a 16% increase in scheduled services and also included the new services to Lee -on- Solent,  allowing Hovertravel to offer customers more choice and flexibility throughout the busy summer period.

Overall passenger numbers in July were 10% higher than the same month last year, with the increased timetable introduced to help accommodate the higher demand. The extra services supported a wide range of journeys, from commuters and business travel to day trips, holidays and visits with friends and family.

 Hovertravel operates the world's longest-running commercial hovercraft service and provides the fastest way to travel between Southsea and Ryde, with the journey taking less than 10 minutes.

 Loretta Lale, Head of Marketing at Hovertravel, said: "Our priority is always to make sure we have the right level of service for our customers, particularly during our busiest times of the year. As more people chose to travel with us in July, we were able to add 156 extra flights to provide additional capacity and greater flexibility. Whether customers were commuting, heading off on holiday, visiting family or enjoying a day out, the extra services helped make travelling across the Solent easier and gave people more choice when planning their journeys”.

"We have also seen fantastic demand for our special flights between Lee-on-the-Solent and Ryde. Interest has been so strong that we've added extra dates twice, with those additional sailings also selling out. It demonstrates the value customers place on having more travel options and convenient connections.

 "We'll continue to review travel patterns and, where possible, adjust our timetable to make sure we're providing the service our customers need."

The additional July services reflect Hovertravel's ongoing commitment to responding to customer demand and providing a reliable, convenient and frequent link across the Solent.