Airlines’ budget for Social Media to increase despite gaps

SINGAPORE – Social media budget is likely to increase in 2015, according to 63 percent of airline executives. 66 percent would like to double the number of staff for social media, as revealed in latest findings from a survey that SimpliFlying conducted with 148 airline executives worldwide.

The Airline Social Media Outlook 2015 survey asked ten questions to executives representing 87 airlines across five regions including APAC, Middle East, Europe, Americas and Africa.

According to Shashank Nigam, CEO, SimpliFlying: “Social media has secured a firm position in the marketing strategies of most airlines. Yet many executives see a chasm between where airlines are and where they should be in terms of leveraging social media to achieve business goals.”

Key findings in this research survey include:
- 59 percent of airline executives agree there are insufficient resources allocated to social media.
- 63 percent of airline executives say social media budget will increase in 2015. Majority would like a budget increase of up to 25%.
- 84 percent of airline executives want to have more staff working on social media. 66 percent would like to double the staff number for social media.
- The most important goal airline executives think social media should drive is customer service, rather than the current emphasis on brand awareness.
- 87 percent of airline executives want to use social media data to develop customer insights. Only half the number is currently doing that.

As social media is a relatively new item on the business agenda for most airlines, airlines need to actively link the vision of the organization to social media. More information about airline social media budget, staffing, business goals and data metrics can be found in the report.

sourced:traveldailynews.asia