Family first: Etihad Airways recently celebrated the graduation of its 1,000th Flying Nanny. Elpida Tsatsaronis completed her training at Norland College and the Etihad Airways Innovation Training Academy in Abu Dhabi.
“The Flying Nanny is one of the most recognizable members of Etihad Airways cabin crew on long-haul flights,” said Aubrey Tiedt, vice president guest services at Etihad Airways. “We are delighted to mark the graduation of our 1,000th team member to wear the orange apron.”
“When we introduced the Flying Nanny, our goal was to offer practical support to families traveling with young children. The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Tiedt added. “On our busiest routes, particularly to London and destinations in the United States, we frequently deploy two Flying Nannies to ensure families receive extra help.”
Since its launch in 2013, the Flying Nanny programme has become a signature service on Etihad’s long-haul flights, dedicated to assisting families and engaging children with games and activities that make journeys more enjoyable and stress-free.
Where possible, Flying Nannies meet children at the gate before boarding, help coordinate in-flight meal times with parents, and deliver child-friendly entertainment featuring Etihad characters such as Zoe the Bee, Boo the Panda, Jamool the Camel and Kundai the Lion. Their role combines practical childcare support with thoughtful touches that create memorable experiences for young travellers and their families.