16 NOV: Qantas has hired four social media workers to keep tabs on what Twitter and Facebook users are saying about it, the Courier-Mail newspaper reports today.
The airline revealed some time ago that it intended placing greater emphasis on social media by forming a special unit.
The plan was fast-tracked after last year’s A380 engine explosion, which saw inaccurate reports that the plane had crashed being tweeted worldwide moments after the blast.
Within five minutes, cockpit crew were being told by Singapore air traffic control that parts of the engine were being found on the ground in Indonesia.
A Qantas spokesman said the situation had highlighted the need to increase social media resources quickly.
