Austrian Airlines has recently announced its departure from the X social media platform. In a tongue-in-cheek take, the airline chose to announce its departure with a picture of a cabin crew member in a passenger briefing pose. The caption read: “We took a moment to locate our nearest X-it”.
On a more serious note, the airline cited concerns about the increasing presence of hate speech, agitation, and disinformation on the platform. The carrier believes that this increasingly toxic environment contradicts its company values.
A Growing Exodus of Major Companies
This move by a major airline follows a trend of high profile businesses and individuals leaving X. This steady exodus has arisen from concerns about content moderation and the platform’s direction under Elon Musk’s ownership. Austrian Airlines now joins a growing list of major companies that have chosen to distance themselves from the platform.
A self-proclaimed advocate for free speech, Musk’s contradictory behaviour was also evidenced in an aviation-related account suspension. Previously, he has taken steps to limit the tracking of his private jet flights, including blocking accounts that use publicly available data to track his movements.
One notable instance involved the Twitter account @ElonJet, which used public flight data to track the real-time location of Musk’s private jet.
Despite initially defending the account’s right to exist, Musk later changed his stance and suspended the account. Notably, the data used to track these flights is publicly available and accessible to anyone.
About Austrian Airlines
Austrian Airlines, the flag carrier airline of Austria, is an airline of significant standing. It is a subsidiary of Lufthansa, the German flag carrier, and was founded in 1957 by the merger of Air Austria and Austrian Airways.
The carrier traces its lineage back to 1923 with the founding of Austrian Airways. Vienna International Airport in Schwechat, Austria, is the headquarters of Austrian Airlines. Notably, the airline has been recognized for its high-quality service and Business Class offerings.
Summary
Airlines typically rely heavily on social media platforms to communicate with customers, provide rapid updates, and address concerns.
While not publicly declaring a full departure, several other airlines have notably reduced their activity on X. This has been evidenced by fewer posts and less engagement with their followers. Other Lufthansa subsidiary carriers such as SWISS, Brussels Airlines, and EuroWings appear to have scaled down their presence on the platform.
While leaving X, Austrian Airlines advised it will maintain its presence on other social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn. The airline encouraged passengers to stay connected through these channels for the latest updates and customer service.
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