Manchester Airport provides flight data via Twitter

Manchester Airport has joined the world of micro-blogging website, Twitter, to use social media as part of its marketing activity for its Summer retail campaign, giving followers a chance to save hundreds of pounds.

In addition to the savings for customers, another application that makes the airport's usage site stand out from other corporate users is that followers of Manchester will also be able to get live flight data via a 'tweet' or message. Live flight data is already available through the website but passengers or visitors can now send a direct message or DM containing their flight number and will be sent a DM every time the status of their flight changes.

Users need to follow @manairport and the airport will automatically follow them back allowing the airport to continue to update them on the status of their flight.

Another incentive for people to follow the airport is a voucher offer for use in the new terminal format for Summer 2009. By 'retweeting' a voucher available to download today, everyone who refers a friend to follow the airport will be entered into a monthly prize draw to win £500 of airport shopping vouchers, free holiday car parking and overnight accommodation at a nearby hotel.

Manchester Airport has undergone an £80 million investment in preparation for the Summer season this year, which officially opened at the start of Summer and is currently being put through its paces during the busiest time of the year for the UK's largest regional airport. This is the first time that Manchester Airport has used online media as part of its marketing activities and for the first time sees the airport using social media tools to engage with its customers.

Andrew Harrison, Commercial Director for Manchester Airport, said: "In the current economic climate people are being much more savvy about how they spend their money but they still see their summer holiday as essential. We have created the retail vouchers to help our customers make their hard earned money go much further."

In last year's 'Splash out' retail campaign only six offers were available; this year thanks to close co-operation with business partners, there are 39 offers in the Value Added Travel voucher booklet and over 45 online via Twitter and the Manchester Airport website.

Mr Harrison added: "The re-launched retail facilities means customers can now benefit from many more brands at low, tax-free prices. In addition, by using the money-saving vouchers in the booklets and online, there are also additional substantial discounts on food and drink to big savings on high street brands."

The stream also gives the airport a chance to communicate with an audience from a wide age group within its target market. Ofcom's recent Communications Market Report 2009 found the proportion of 25 to 34-year-olds who said they had a social networking site profile grew by six percentage points in the space of a year to 46%. Figures had also risen in the 35 to 54-year-old age group, with 35% having a profile.

Obviously these are the age groups who might be looking to book holidays or are more likely to use our facilities. It's also given the airport a way of communicating directly with passengers either in the terminals, on their way to the terminals or just considering the holiday season. Many users are able to update their status and receive messages via their mobile phones.

To follow the official Manchester Airport on Twitter please search for Twitter.com/manairport or visit manchesterairport.co.uk/Campaigns/twitter/voucher