HOVERSPEED is undertaking a major upgrade of its 1st service for business and premium customers in an effort to boost bookings in the niche sector.
The changes include an expansion in 1st seat capacity across the fleet and the introduction of new airport-style lounges in ports, fast-track check-in and reserved parking. These will be added to the existing 1st service benefits, which are priority boarding, use of an on-board lounge, a personal cabin attendant and complimentary drinks, food and news-papers.
Work on enlarging all 1st cabin areas is to be carried out this winter. Capacity on the company’s hovercraft, which serve the Dover-Calais route, will be increased from 14 to 54 seats.
On the SuperSeaCat between Newhaven and Dieppe, capacity will be doubled from 35 to 70 seats. Capacity on the SeaCat operating the Dover-Ostend route will increase from 34 to 68 seats, while on the Seacat serving the Folkestone-Boulogne crossing it will be raised from 35 to 70.
The new on-shore lounges in Dover, Calais and Ostend are scheduled for completion by March 2000, after which similar projects will be carried out at other ports.
A Hoverspeed spokesman said the loss of duty-free sales had prompted the company to look at alternative ways of raising revenue.
“This was a market we didn’t think was particularly well catered for at the moment,” he said. “Most operators have an upgrade service but they only really offer people a separate lounge on board. They don’t offer a full service from check-in to leaving port on arrival.”
He added that there is currently high demand for the 1st service on Hoverspeed’s longest routes, which are Newhaven-Dieppe and Dover-Ostend.
Prices are set to rise following the improvements to the service.
Hoverspeed plans to create a separate price band for 1st, rather than continuing to charge one-way premiums.
At present, the premiums are £5 per person each way between Dover and Calais; £7.50 on the Folkestone-Boulogne route; and £15 on the Dover-Ostend and Newhaven-Dieppe routes, on which hot meals are served.
Hoverspeed refused to disclose how much it is investing in the upgrade to 1st.