As of 18 April, KLM has become the first airline worldwide to run a campaign using Facebook’s Augmented Reality (AR) ads format aimed at promoting its destinations on Facebook.

KLM less-known destinations like Taipei, Edmonton and Stavanger will now be a click away using this interactive technology.

AR technology connects reality and the virtual world. In a virtual world, people on Facebook will be able to discover and explore KLM destinations before booking a ticket.

Although the initial test phase will focus on destinations, products and services will also be offered in the future using AR technology.

By clicking on the AR ad, people will be able to use the Facebook camera to see themselves with a KLM suitcase on their way to the new destination. It will then be possible to enjoy a 360° view of what the destination has to offer within the ‘Try before you Fly’ AR environment!

Over and above useful travel tips and interesting snippets of information, KLM hopes to add real-time ticket prices within this AR environment as part of the next step.

Facebook is currently testing AR ads in the Facebook newsfeed. The format appears as any other ads on Facebook but springs to life when people click on the “click to activate” button.

KLM is among the first in the world to test the new AR ads functionality.