Lucketts puts £470,000 into top class coaches (From Romsey Advertiser)

Lucketts puts £470,000 into top class coaches

10:56am Friday 13th April 2012 in Hampshire Business By Matt Smith, Politics and business reporter

Steve O’Neill (left), commercial director of Irizar UK, hands the keys to David Luckett (right), chairman of Lucketts Travel

HAMPSHIRE travel firm Lucketts has taken delivery of two luxury Spanish coaches in a half-a-million -pound deal.

The new 49-seat coaches, built by Spanish manufacturer Irizar, have already created a buzz in the European coach industry and Fareham-based Lucketts snapped up a pair when they came on the market.

The investment comes just in time for Lucketts’ summer season.

The new arrivals are amongst the first in Britain and will be primarily used for Lucketts’ “Platinum Tours”

– with passengers taken in comfort to top UK and European attractions and destinations, staying at high quality hotels.

Steven Luckett, joint managing director of Lucketts Travel said “By its very nature the coach industry never stops moving, and we’ve always tried to stay ahead of the game.

“By investing in these new coaches we can continue to offer the highest levels of comfort and quality to our customers, with lower operating costs than older vehicles. It will help us to stay competitive and give great value to our passengers.”

The Irizar i6 coaches, costing £235,000 each, have 49 reclining seats and toilets on board.

Under the bonnet the latest in diesel engines deliver a smooth ride, with major benefits in reductions in emissions and fuel consumption.

Award-winning Lucketts Travel, established in 1926, now has a fleet of more than 80 modern coaches, and transports hundreds of thousands of passengers every year.

The company has recently expanded, with the acquisition of Southampton-based Coliseum Coaches, which continues to run a fleet of 12 coaches under its own name.

Blake Lapthorn advised Lucketts on the deal.