UK ferry operator finds first three months of the year busier than the same period last year
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Red Funnel Ferries has recorded a 5.4% rise in the number of passengers on its ferries in the first three months of 2015, compared to the same period in 2014.
Red Funnel, which operates three ro-pax ferries and three high-speed catamaran passenger ferries on the River Solent between Southampton in England and the Isle of Wight, also recorded a 7.1% growth in cars and a 38.3% increase in coaches.
The operator has also outperformed the total cross-Solent market in the first quarter of 2015, which has seen an increase in cars and passengers of 6.3% and 4.5% respectively, compared to last year.
“2015 has got off to a great start, which demonstrates the appeal of the Isle of Wight as a year-round destination for both day trip and staying visitors,” said Jonathan Green, marketing and communications director for Red Funnel. “Attractive pricing and a wide range of activities and events such as the Acoustic Isle music festival and the Electric Woods ‘Spirit of the Orient’ have given people new reasons to visit and stay for a short-break during the winter and shoulder periods.”
Over the past year, Red Funnel has invested more than £4.4 million to improve its fleet, while UK company Trimline refurbished two of its ro-pax ferries, Red Falcon and Red Osprey.
“We continue to be encouraged by the growth in visitors to the Isle of Wight and we are confident that this trend is set to continue,” said Kevin George, CEO of Red Funnel. “The £2.2m refurbishment of Red Osprey, which mirrors sister ship Red Falcon, has been extremely well received by the market and our ‘customer first’ strategy is really paying off, as more visitors choose to travel via Southampton with Red Funnel.”