Etihad Airways has trained senior cabin crew members to become its first flying butlers.
The hand-picked team of 13 men and women, who are all based in Abu Dhabi, have completed a three-week training course led by the head butler at London's Savoy hotel.
The role of the first flying butler will be to look after guests booked in Etihad's three-room cabin, The Residence, on its inaugural A380 service in December (see news, August 14). The Residence will feature a living room, private shower and double bedroom.
The newly-qualified flying butlers received training at the London School of Hospitality and Tourism at the University of West London, as well as on-the-job training at the Savoy hotel.
Aubrey Tiedt, Etihad's vice president of guest services, said: "I am extremely proud of the team’s achievements and they all qualified with flying colours to become the world's first-ever butlers in the sky.
"They are really enthusiastic and cannot wait to board the A380 aircraft and put into practice all that they have learned.
"Etihad Airways aims to be the best in everything we set out to do and the flying butlers will provide a level of service that no traveller has ever experienced in commercial aviation."
Etihad's first A380 service will fly from Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow on December 27. The airline will next year receive three more superjumbo that it will deploy to LHR (a second daily service) and to Sydney (see news, August 27). It also plans to operate an A380 service to New York.
Graham Smith
