July 24, 2002 As the Great Summer Getaway begins, high speed car ferry operator Hoverspeed is gearing up for the year's busiest weekend this weekend, with huge demand for its cross channel routes to France and Belgium. The company expects to carry over 10,000 cars and around 35,000 passengers over the weekend, and during the six week peak season up to the end of August, in excess of 500,000 passengers and 150,000 cars. Business has been growing all year for the Dover based Seacat operator and to meet demand for the 2002 peak season, Hoverspeed has increased its Dover - Calais frequency to 15 return sailings daily. An hourly service from 0600, gets into full swing this weekend as the holiday exodus gets underway. Hoverspeed's forward bookings for the July and August periods are over 20% up year on year, with over 70,000 cars already booked on the Dover - Calais route. Via Hoverspeed's seasonal Dover - Ostend route peak season advance reservations are up 17%, with over 21,000 cars booked. Hoverspeed operates three cross channel routes with its fleet of high speed craft. Crossing time via Dover - Calais is one hour, and just two hours on the seasonal Dover - Ostend and Newhaven - Dieppe services. Frequency to Ostend is two return sailings daily and up to three return sailings daily between Newhaven and Dieppe.Press Release Media contact: Nick Stevens, Public Relations Manager Telephone: (01304) 865170 |