Monthly events will give commuters the opportunity to meet the team, enjoy refreshments and find out more about the future of the hovercraft service.
Hovertravel has launched a new series of Customer Appreciation Days, giving customers the opportunity to meet members of the team, enjoy complimentary refreshments and find out more about developments within the business.
Hovercraft Upgrade Programme
The first event took place on Thursday 5th November 2026at both Southsea and Ryde terminals, with customers welcomed with complimentary tea, coffee, pastries and doughnuts as they travelled to work.
The initiative will take place each month, providing a regular opportunity for Hovertravel to engage directly with its customers, answer questions and share updates about the business and its plans for the future.
The first event focused on Hovertravel’s Hovercraft Upgrade Programme, a major investment in the long-term future of its fleet. The programme will see Solent Flyer undergo a comprehensive refurbishment at Griffon Marine, beginning from 9th November 2026. With completion timetabled for Spring 2027, the programme has been scheduled to allow for the complexity of the work and provide additional contingency.
Single-craft service until spring
During this period, Hovertravel will operate a single-craft service, with Island Flyer continuing to provide the scheduled passenger service between Southsea and Ryde.
Representatives from Hovertravel were on hand at the terminals to explain how the timetable has been designed to operate with one craft and remind customers of the established disruption contingency arrangements which provide alternative transport options if required.
Customers were also given an insight into the work to be undertaken by Hovertravel’s engineering team to maintain Island Flyer’s reliability, including the importance of planned maintenance outside scheduled service hours wherever possible.
The Hovercraft Upgrade Programme represents a significant investment in the safety, reliability and resilience of Hovertravel’s fleet. The work will extend the operational life of Solent Flyer, reduce the risk of unplanned maintenance and deliver improvements to the customer experience.
Lale: A significant investment
Loretta Lale, Head of Marketing at Hovertravel, said,
“Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and we wanted to introduce a regular opportunity to say thank you for their continued support while keeping them informed about what is happening within the business.
“We recognise that the forthcoming fleet programme is an important development for our service, particularly for customers who rely on us to get to and from work every day. These events give us the opportunity to explain what is happening, answer questions and provide reassurance about the arrangements we have put in place.
“The Hovercraft Upgrade Programme is a significant investment in Hovertravel’s future. While operating with one craft will present some operational challenges, this planned work will bring important long-term benefits to reliability and the experience we provide to our customers.”
Future dates
The Customer Appreciation Days will continue monthly, with the next events planned for:
- Thursday 10th December 2026
- Thursday 21st January 2027
- Thursday 25th February 2027
- Thursday 25th March 2027
Customers are encouraged to drop into either terminal during the morning to enjoy refreshments, meet the team and find out more about Hovertravel’s latest news and developments.
The events will also provide an opportunity to remind eligible customers about HoverPlus, Hovertravel’s customer loyalty scheme, and the monthly offers available to members.
Hovertravel appreciates the continued patience and support of its customers during the Hovercraft Upgrade Programme and remains committed to maintaining the world’s favourite year-round scheduled passenger hovercraft service.
News shared by Stephen on behalf of Hovertravel. Ed
