Guess who co-authored the “First comprehensive Guide to Airline Social Media strategies”

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08/09/2009 – Guess who co-authored the “First comprehensive Guide to Airline Social Media strategies”

…well the full headline from the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation as of right now is “First comprehensive Guide to Airline Social Media strategies released”

Still taking a guess at who co-authored it? If you guessed Fish did…then you guessed right!  Rather than ramble on about the 62 page, 15,000 word report which has caused me less sleep than I have had in a long time, I’ll just let you all read what the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation has to say about this ground breaking document…

A new guide aimed at helping airlines understand and implement successful Social Media strategies has been released. Researched by Innovation Analysis Group and TheTravelStrategist.com, in association with the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, the report states that while it is early days for social media as a B2C tool, “the scale of activity at the non-commercial level is such that businesses cannot help but seek to tap into what may prove to be a lucrative flow”.

Today Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube and online blogs, offer largely unexplored new advertising and promotion platforms.

In the report’s Foreword, Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation Executive Chairman, Peter Harbison, notes, “as always, low cost airlines tend to be the innovators in this area, but – perhaps in a sign of the changed times – many full service airlines have strongly bought into the Social Media sites too”.

The early movers are seeing some positive spin-offs from their activity. JetBlue for example has almost 1.2 million followers on Twitter. In August 2009, the airline carried just over twice that many passengers, but it is difficult to determine if there is any significant relationship between the two. 12 months from now, the evidence will be there, either way.

The report notes that the airline industry is by nature conservative – decisions are made deliberately and often slowly. But social media is evolving quickly; frequently out running an airline’s ability to develop formal policies of how to handle such communications. By the time various departments, like legal, have made their input and guidance, the technology has moved on.

There is another persistent issue – staffing levels. Airlines have eviscerated their staffing levels to a minimum. This is especially true among the US airlines, where people involved with social media are frequently doing the function as a part-time job (intern) or simultaneously with another job. Given the flow of information, this is virtually a guarantee of failure.
About the report: The Airline Industry & Social Media: A must-have strategic guide for airline marketing and sales

The report offers a sequential social media roll-out plan for airlines, including a summary of the “DOs and DON’Ts” of Social Media and numerous case study examples. It aims to educate and help airlines formulate strategic responses to a branding and distribution opportunity that is too big to ignore.

The report provides a comprehensive analysis of numerous airlines and their use of social media. The analysis is based on primary and secondary research. It details the short and evolving impact of social media on travel generally, and airlines specifically. It also provides a detailed road map for successful deployment of social media. A number of airlines’ use of Twitter is analyzed – demonstrating how these airlines have done well or are falling behind.

The report lists the Top Three Twittering Airlines; JetBlue, Southwest and Virgin America. It analyses Twitter activities at Air Baltic, Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, jetBlue, Kenya Airways, Qantas, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Virgin America.

“Many airlines appear to start up their Twitter streams without much research into how to effectively engage customers and potential customers. Most importantly, the majority of airlines on Twitter do not appear to have a defined strategy for addressing customer complaints and concerns”, said Frischling.

“Some airlines have moved quickly and effectively to exploit social media,” said Schonland.  “We believe that despite early successes, many airlines may be at risk because of the rapid changes in social media. Fortunately there are simple guidelines that, if followed, could ensure even late starters can catch up and succeed.”

Mr Harbison stated, “this is a must-read guide to the fast-changing social media world, you HAVE to have this guide if you are going to be in the game”.

About the authors

Steven Frischling is a recognized airline travel expert and international photographer whose vast experience has provided him with an intricate understanding of complexity of the commercial airline industry and a gift for negotiating elaborate itineraries. Steven’s involvement with social media dates back to 1994 when he worked with Kodak as an original moderator in their America Online forums. In 1996, he created an online customer interaction and search initiative for a Japanese consumer technology manufacturer, and two years later he helped the Discovery Channel Online to pioneer the widespread online usage of iPix interactive photography. In the interest of sharing his in-depth knowledge of travel logistics and the intricate workings of business travel, he founded the popular broad-based nuts-and-bolts travel blog Flying With Fish (www.flyingwithfish.com) in 2006.

Additional information can be found at www.thetravelstrategist.com.

Addison Schonland heads Innovation Analysis Group, an aviation focused market-research and consultancy based in the United States, and has worked with aircraft manufacturers, engine manufacturers, airlines and the air travel sector.  Addison has been an innovator in new media, and publishes a successful aviation blog and on-line information resource. He holds degrees in Sociology, Economics and Finance for the University of Cape Town, South Africa and a doctorate in business administration from Rushmore University. He was previously with PA Consulting Group and has been involved with commercial aviation for over twenty years.

Additional information can be found at www.iag-inc.com

Happy Flying!