HOVERSPEED INVESTMENT IN JUMBO SEACATS WILL BOOST DOVER-CALAIS SERVICES IN 2005
12 November 2004
High-speed car ferry operator Hoverspeed will expand its Dover-Calais services in 2005 with the introduction of two luxurious Jumbo Seacat catamarans and the company has also pledged to lead the way in a fiercely-competitive market with a range of unbeatable fares on the English Channel.
The news is a much-needed boost for the cross-Channel ferry market at a time when rival operators are making deep cuts to services and forcing through staff redundancies. Hoverspeeds announcement also flies in the face of recent national media reports that the company is set to slash capacity and increase fares next year as a cost-cutting measure.
In 2004, Hoverspeed operated one 74-metre Seacat and one 81-metre Seacat on the Dover route, only drafting in a third vessel to help cope with peak summer demand. In 2005, the company will operate two Jumbo Seacats, providing valuable extra passenger capacity during peak shoulder periods like Easter, half terms and public holidays.
Hoverspeed offers the fastest sea crossing on the route, just one hour berth to berth, and the Jumbo Seacats will provide travellers with the highest standards of onboard luxury. Plush leather seating and an at-seat service for refreshments and duty paid goods makes every passenger feel like a VIP traveller.
Hoverspeed is also leading the way in 2005 with a pledge on fares which can be booked online at hoverspeed.com under best fares available any day.
Hoverspeed managing director Geoffrey Ede dismissed reports that the company was facing the same cost-cutting difficulties currently being experienced by rivals P&O Ferries and Eurotunnel. P&O has announced big job losses and capacity reductions, while the Tunnel operator has also signalled a cut-back in services and redundancies.
He said: As other ferry operators contract and realise the long overdue need to apply major surgery to their businesses, Hoverspeed is in its strongest trading position ever. We started restructuring our business dramatically two years ago to adapt to changing market conditions and made major cost savings. Clearly other operators such as P&O and Eurotunnel failed to do so and are now suffering the consequences and have a long hard road ahead to arrive where we are now.
Happily, not only do we now provide our customers with the fastest sea crossing, dedicated terminals in Dover and Calais hoverports and a unique shopping experience, we will now be operating two luxurious Jumbo Seacats on the route, added Geoffrey Ede.
By introducing the online 49 return fare, Hoverspeed has also taken the lead by providing the lowest standard return price ever among cross-Channel ferry and tunnel operators, clearly stating the long-established fast ferry operators intent to increase its market share on the Channel in 2005.
Geoffrey Ede said: Despite claims by this years new fast ferry operator to the Channel market that it has instigated the best ever prices across the Dover Straits, it has always been Hoverspeed who has led the way on competitive pricing. Once again our new 49 fare in 2005 will be the best available.
The company is also confidently predicting further business increases as cross-Channel customers continue to choose speed, exclusive levels of onboard service and price as the preferred way of crossing the Channel.
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