Meet the world's first flying butler

A cabin crew manager from Telford is set to take off as the world's first flying butler.

Eren Wirizlay, 27, was handpicked by his employers Etihad Airways to attend an intensive three-week training course held in London, led by the Savoy Hotel's head butler Sean Deveron.

The airlines in-flight butlers will start to use their new found skills from December when it takes delivery of its first superjumbo Airbus 380, the biggest commercial plane in the world.

Mr Wirizlay, who joined the airline nearly two years ago, is set to be on the first flight from Abu Dhabi to London's Heathrow Airport on December 27 as the first flying butler in aviation history.

There will be plenty of pressure on his shoulders – each one of his clients will have spent £12,500 for a one-way ticket.

He said: "The thought of being the world's first in-flight butler is amazing and obviously all of us who qualified at the weekend would love to have that honour. But if it's not to be on the inaugural flight I won't be disappointed as my time will come soon enough."

In the last three weeks he has spent time training on etiquette, protocol, valet skills and concierge services.

He learned his new skills at the London School of Hospitality and Tourism, part of the University of West London, as well as on-the-job training at the Savoy Hotel.

Mr Wirizlay got the taste for hospitality when he worked in hotels in Birmingham and Brighton but he decided his personal passion for travel and to see the world would be best served by working for a major international airline.

After joining Etihad Airways he progressed through the ranks of cabin crew and worked his way into the elite butler group - who will look after the airline's customers who have booked The Residence, a three room cabin that includes a living room, private shower room and double bedroom..

He added: "Working in restaurants was fabulous but taking my experience to the skies has given me so much latitude to show my true personality and allowed me to deliver the very best in customer service. The Residence, for me, is a career defining moment.

"It will be the ultimate in customer experience in the aviation world."

Mr Davoren, the Savoy's Head Butler, said: "Eren has been an absolute joy to work with and he now possesses the skills required to provide the highest standard of hospitality, by blending the discretion of a traditional English butler with the efficiency of a 21st century personal assistant."

He is among a group of 13 men and women from across the UK were picked for their experience in hospitality and their commitment to provide exemplary customer service.

All of them are currently in-flight chefs or food and beverage managers who work on Etihad Airways' long-haul fleet of aircraft.

Aubrey Tiedt, Etihad Airways 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."