Hovertravel launches Customer Appreciation Days to keep customers informed about major fleet investment
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.
The first event took place on Thursday, November 5 at 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 on the first Thursday of 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 forthcoming 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 November 9, 2026. With completion timetabled for spring 2027, the programme has been scheduled to allow for the complexity of the work and provide additional contingency.
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.
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."
The Customer Appreciation Days will continue monthly, with the next events planned for:
Thursday, December 10, 2026
Thursday, January 21, 2027
Thursday, February 25
Thursday, March 25
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.