Australia's flagship airline carrier Qantas has designed its first iPad app for the benefit of young travellers.
The app, called Qantas Joey Playbox is free to download and is designed for children who are aged 4-8 years. Its format includes four different games that encourage kids who use it to play and exercise their creativity.
In the app children are able to design their own airport and can prepare a runway for planes to take off. They can also collect luggage in the game and decorate paper airplanes, postcards and bags.
Adults who trust their children with their own boarding passes also give the children the key to unlocking additional features with which to decorate the planes and postcards. The app also has a social media element as the kids will be able to share their designs and drawing with friends and family.
The app was developed by Secret Lab, who won second prize at Qantas' Hackathon event, which called for developers to create apps and solutions to improve the lives of travellers on the airline.
Winning second prize saw Qantas commission Secret Lab to build the app that is now Qantas Joey Playbox, which forms part of the Qantas Frequent Flyer membership base.
Speaking on the app, Qantas head of digital and entertainment Jo Boundy said: "Qantas has over 250,000 flyers in "The Joey Club," Qantas' Frequent Flyer program for children."
She added that "looking after our youngest travellers is very important to us", as the airline is aware that although travel is exciting, it can also be stressful for parents and carers.
The airline believes that the new app is a way to keep children entertained as it has catered to its youngest audience's proficiency with digital technology like the iPad.
Other family-friendly initiatives by Qantas include a dedicated children's movie channel, kids menu in Sydney and Melbourne First Lounges and priority family boarding and additional baggage allowance to include strollers and pushchairs.
