Icelandair allows tickets to be booked on Facebook Messenger

Seeking to attract tech-savvy customers who increasingly book on mobile devices, Icelandair is trying a unique experiment — it now allows customers to book flights on Facebook Messenger. Icelandair is not the first airline to engage with customers on Messenger – KLM earlier this year began letting passengers access boarding passes through the app – but the carrier believes it is the first to allow customers to book on the platform. Icelandair introduced the feature on Tuesday, and though it’s a bit clunky, the carrier is bullish on its future. The airline’s move is part of a growing trend in the travel industry, as brands rush to develop Messenger-compatible programs. Other brands that take Messenger seriously include Hyatt Hotels, Expedia, Kayak and CheapFlights. Some companies only respond to customer queries, while others process bookings. “It’s Icelandair’s strategy to bring bookings and other services to the places where our customers are,” Guðmundur Óskarsson, Icelandair’s director of marketing and business development, said in an email. “We see our customers increasingly using mobile devices, and we believe this channel is a natural progression.” <br/>