An Express Hovercraft service for 130 passengers
The first of the new generation BHT (British Hovercraft Technology) hovercraft entered service in 2007. On June 7, the BHT 130 “Solent Express” began operating on Hovertravel’s Ryde-Southsea route.

Hovertravel, the cross-Solent passenger hovercraft operators, have carried an ever-increasing number of passengers over recent years. 2006 was the record year when a total of 779,529 passengers crossed the Solent by hovercraft. With just two 95 seat AP.1 – 88 hovercraft (built by Hoverwork) to cope with the demand, there was a need to increase capacity.

With 130 seats, the BHT 130 helps provide that extra capacity without any increase in turnround time.  The new hovercraft operates within Hovertravel’s current timetable which allows 10 minutes to cross the 4 nautical miles route (the BHT 130 could comfortably cross faster) and a 5 minute turnround. The “Solent Express” matches the smaller 95 seater hovercraft’s turnround time through its wider access doors located in the middle of the passenger saloon rather than at the rear.