Red Funnel

Passenger Vehicle Ferry Service

Southampton/East Cowes
Operating around the clock, our Vehicle ferry service takes 55 minutes to cruise across the Solent

• Annually, around 2 million passengers travel on our vehicle ferries

• The peak months for travel are June July and August, but the entire holiday season stretches from March through to late October, with weekend breaks becoming increasingly popular through the Winter months

Visitor profiles;

• Short breaks and self-catering breaks are popular outside the peak season. These tend to attract consumers aged 30 to 70 from Socio-economic groups ABC1

• Traditional one or two week holidays are popular during the school holidays and attract passengers aged 25 to 60 from socio-economic groups C1, C2 and D

• Group coach holidays attracting socio-economic groups C2DE aged 55 to 80 are popular throughout the year

• From Easter to October significant numbers of day trips are made to the Island by families from Hampshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Surrey and Dorset

Red Jet Hi-Speed Passenger Service

Southampton/West Cowes
Sprinting between Southampton and West Cowes our Hi-Speed Red Jet Passenger service offers 2 crossings per hour, with a sailing time of just 23 minutes

• Approximately, 1 million people use the Red Jet service each year. On average, that’s 19,000 a week or more than 2,500 per day, all of whom will pass our walkway light boxes and queuing area poster sites, and all of whom will have to watch the onboard screen for the safety announcement

• In conjunction with South West Trains we offer the fastest journey from the Isle of Wight to London, making us the obvious choice for the commuter and the weekend visitor.

• Over 60% of Red Jet passengers fall into socio-economic classifications ABC1. This means our advertising opportunities are perfect for targeting a more affluent consumer

Key Events

Passenger figures on both services increase significantly in response to specific Island or mainland events. See below with associated social stratum.

• Southampton FC Home Matches (C2, D - 18 to 40)
• Isle of Wight Walking Festival (C1, C2 - 35 to 60)
• Isle of Wight Rock Festival (C1, C2 - 20 to 60)
• Skandia Cowes Week Regatta (B, C1, C2 - 18 to 50)
• Bestival (B, C1 - 18 to 30)
• Little Britain Challenge (B, C1 - 25 to 50)
• White Air Festival (B, C1, C2 -16 to 35)
• Cycling Festival (B, C1, C2 -16 to 35)