Hey,....
that´s not totally correct! Threre are quite a lot of new kinds of hovercrafts starting to operate all around the world... they are only a small part of all vehicles, but they are gaining more and more importance... the Greek took 3 gigantic hovercrafts into duty, the Russians have 12, the Canadians have 14 (of wich 6 belong to the coastguard and are important for rescue missions, ice breaking (they just orderd a new one for icebreaking) and mantainance), the Americans have a lot more than 400 (most of them work as militarycrafts for amphibious missions, right now on a supply mission for flood-victims), even in NewZeeland the Kiwis use 3 as Rescue- and Airport-Security Crafts...
And they are getting more by the minute
Griffon Hoverworks for example (http://www.griffonhoverwork.com/) are working on a new type of passenger craft for the isle of wight route.
On this ferryroute (http://www.hovertravel.co.uk/) you can also find the original Freedom 90 Craft... wich is a quite old one,
I must admit...
But they are sure not becoming extinct!
Just to say that
Best wishes,
Holger
By the way,.. the foto is the Freedom 90 in her latest livery