London City Airport has become the first airport in the UK to enable customers to use Facebook Messenger to find out the latest real-time information about their flight.

Following a short trial period, from today any passenger who has Facebook Messenger on their device can send their flight number on the day of travel to the LCY Flight Info Facebook page and receive personalised flight information.

The automated messages provide up-to-the-minute information on flight status, including departure and arrival time and boarding gate numbers, removing the need to constantly check flight information screens.

Both departing passengers and those waiting for passengers to arrive can get the information relevant to them.

The new Facebook Messenger functionality coincides with the latest passenger analysis for the first quarter of 2016, which found that for the first time ever the proportion of under-35 passengers reached 35 per cent at London City Airport.

It is expected that millennial travellers will be among the first to use the service.

Alison FitzGerald, chief information officer at London City Airport, said: “The majority of our passengers are connected to social media and many of these are business travellers, so it makes perfect sense to offer flight updates directly to their smartphones via Facebook Messenger.

“We already offer free Wi-Fi and a check-in time of 20 minutes or less, and this is another way of ensuring a hassle-free, personalised customer experience.”