There is no sign of Hovertravel following rivals Wightlink and Red Funnel in making cuts to Isle of Wight fast passenger services. Now the world’s longest running commercial hovercraft operator, Hovertravel carries 70,000 passengers a month between Southsea and Ryde, with more than 25 million passenger journeys recorded since the service was launched in 1980.
Although Hovertravel’s 65-knot craft are limited to 45 knots on the Solent, crossings are still completed in under ten minutes, with half hourly departures throughout the day increasing to every 15 minutes during the morning and evening peaks.
For the past 30 years Hovertravel have also been contracted to carry mails to and from the Isle of Wight, and at Southsea there are Hoverbus links to Portsmouth rail stations.
