American Airlines is getting downright social as it launches Black Atlas, a community website where African-American travelers can “explore stories, reviews, travel tips, videos and photos as seen through the eyes of black travelers” — and also book some AA flights.
The airline is set to roll out more functionality for the website in about a week, around Oct. 15.
It is great that American, like other airlines including British Airways with its MetroTwin initiative, see some value in social media. American already has community websites for women, gays and lesbians, and business travelers.
But, with the exception of some stars like JetBlue, Southwest, Virgin Atlantic and Air New Zealand, as outlined in a study, “The Airline Industry and Social Media,” the aviation community generally is afraid of its own social-media shadow, and is floundering.
