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AIRLINES www.travelweeklyweb.com Boosting travel through art SINGAPORE – A visual art competition has been launched in Singapore, following its successful run in Australia last year. In collaboration with Singapore Changi Airport and participating airlines, Achieve Thru Art (ATA) aims to engage more than 400,000 students and youths from all schools in Singapore, through the three-month art initiative. The ATA programme was conducted through Australian Schools in 2012 and attracted over 540 school and community group registrations. This is the first year ATA is brought to Singapore through partnership with Singapore Changi Airport and participating airlines. Participants will stand to win prizes to destinations such as Helsinki, Finland From now till October 21, students can express their interpretation of art, using any medium, based on the theme: Countries, Cultures and Festivals and upload a picture of their work on www.achievethruart.com/singapore, a virtual gallery that is visible worldwide. Artworks that garner the most popular votes in the four categories; Lower and Upper Primary, Lower and Upper Secondary, will stand the chance to win prizes such as iPad Minis and iPad Mini docking stations from Changi Airport Group and SATS. Participants whose artwork is selected by an expert panel of judges will stand to win travel prizes to destinations such as Helsinki, Istanbul, Delhi, Kaoshiung, Vientiane, Bandar Seri Begawan, Iloilo in the Philippines, Hanoi, Changsha in China and more. "Changi Airport and its partner airlines Cebu Pacific Air, China Airlines, Finnair, Jet Airways, Lao Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines, SilkAir, Turkish Airlines and Vietnam Airlines, destination content partner Trip Advisor as well as SATS Group, have come together in this initiative to encourage interest in the visual arts among all students and youths in Singapore. At the same time, an art competition is also an innovative way to stimulate interest in some of the destinations the participating airlines are connected to from Singapore," said Lim Ching Kiat, senior vice-president, Market Development, Changi Airport Group. "This initiative by the airport community is an excellent way to kindle interest in the visual arts and simultaneously develop awareness of the destinations the participating airlines, like SilkAir, fly to," said Leslie Thng, chief executive, SilkAir. The Flying Nanny ABU DHABI – Families with children can now ease their fears and worries with the launch of a dedicated in-flight childcare assistance programme for families by Etihad Airways. The new Flying Nanny concept, on board long-haul flights is introduced to lend a "helping hand" to families as well as unaccompanied minors. Some 300 cabin crew members have completed the enhanced training for the role. This includes a course on child psychology and sociology from the world-renowned Norland College. This enables the Flying Nannies to identify the different types of behaviour and developmental stages that children go through and how to appreciate the perspective and needs of travelling families. Easily identifiable by their bright orange apron, an additional 60 cabin crew will be trained in September and 500 Flying Nannies will be working on Etihad Airways long haul flights by the end of 2013. "Flying with a young family can be a daunting task, even for the most experienced travellers, 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," said Aubrey Tiedt, Etihad Airways' vice-president, Guest Services. The Flying Nanny will also frequently use in-flight service items such as paper cups which can be made into hats and the Japanese art of origami to fold paper into sculptures. All activities are designed so 16 | ■ TRAVELWEEKLY ASIA | SEPTEMBER 2013 Etihad's Flying Nanny will interact with children on long-haul flights the Flying Nanny can leave the children to complete on their own. One of the onboard highlights is set to be the creation of sock puppets which use stickers from the Flying Nanny kit as eyes and the socks from the guest's travel pack. For older children, the Flying Nanny is equipped with simple quizzes and challenges to keep them occupied as well as taking them on tours of the galley during quieter moments of the flight. www.travelweeklyweb.com

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