Emirates has extended its social media customer service to provide 24-hour support, seven days a week. The airline will also expand its language offering to both Arabic and English on Twitter and Facebook. These services are now live.

The social media support channels have been active since 2012 and allow customers to interact with the airline for queries and information. Beginning with 50 transactions per day via Facebook private message three years ago, the service has gained traction and is now one of the most popular avenues for customers to reach Emirates. These channels are most effectively used in real time when passengers are travelling and need additional assistance or to leave feedback on a pleasant experience.

Today, the airline’s consultants handle more than 1,000 queries a day via the two social media channels. These queries range from support with bookings to compliments and feedback on products and services. With the introduction of 24-hour support, response times have greatly improved.

“Our social media customer service complements other existing channels so customers can reach us in the way they find most convenient. Since we introduced our social media customer support channels, we have been constantly working to update and improve our offering. With travellers based worldwide and in different time zones, providing 24-hour social media support in English and Arabic allows us to be more responsive and serve more of our customers,” Karen Bell-Wright, Emirates’ senior vice president of retail and contact centres, said.

While common queries can be found at the help centre on emirates.com, Emirates customers can also get in touch via other channels – through e-mails, retail outlets and phone.

Emirates’ social media customer service can be accessed from facebook.com/emirates or on Twitter: @emiratessupport.

Emirates operates a daily scheduled flight between Dubai and Malta via Larnaca, Cyprus. For more information and flight schedules, visit www.emirates.com/mt.