Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has launched a dedicated in-flight child care assistance program for families, led by the introduction of a new Flying Nanny on board long haul flights.

Identified by bright orange aprons, each Flying Nanny aims to provide a ‘helping hand’ to families and unaccompanied minors. They also introduce children to the exciting collectable Etihad characters – Zoe the bee, Jamool the camel, Kundai the lion, and Boo the panda – who accompany them on their trip.

The Flying nannies are required to complete their in-depth training at the world renowned Norland College, concentrating on child psychology and sociology, so that they are able to identify different types of behavior and developmental stages that children go through and appreciate the perspective and needs of travelling families.

Aubrey Tiedt, Etihad Airways’ Vice President Guest Services, said: “Flying with a young family can be a daunting task, even for the most experienced travelers, and the Flying Nanny role demonstrates our understanding of our guests’ needs and our commitment to making the journey as relaxing and comfortable as possible.”

During the flight the Flying Nanny will utilize her specialist training, supporting the needs of families and unaccompanied minors, as well as supporting other cabin crew members when they interact with families.