Robots Edi and Alia are turning heads at Milan Expo

Edi, with bands of gold to represent Etihad Airways and Alia with green streaks for Alitalia, are a draw on the expo promenade.

DUBAI // Robots Edi and Alia are turning heads as they roll up to visitors at the Milan Expo and engage them with messages about green fuel turbo-charged jet engines.

The fibre-glass creations, Edi with bands of gold to represent Etihad and Alia with green streaks for Alitalia, are a draw on the expo promenade. Another robot pair welcomes visitors inside the airline pavilion.

The shiny, smiling 1.5-metre-high mascots were created in time for the world fair.

“They have become icons at the expo possibly because they are family oriented and it’s something kids love,” said Ross Brown, Etihad Airways head of brand management and visual communications.

“We first created Edi last year in December and then we needed another character so Alia was created.”

Videos beamed inside the pavilion explain how both airlines sometimes use biofuel.

One clip shows the robots flying over Abu Dhabi across the iconic red-roofed Ferrari World when Edi realises they require a fuel pit stop. An Emirati scientist then teaches the two robots about generating biofuel.

The recharge puts them back on track and they swoop past the towering Gothic stone spires that dominate Milan.

“Let’s go green/Together we’ll go clean/Better environment/Better tomorrow/Give our children/A green future,” the robots advise in the animation.

Colouring books are available to explain the biofuel process and apps for children to play with both characters.

“Edi and Alia blend education and information and have become a favourite with kids,” said Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways chief commercial officer.

“They are a link to our biofuel and Masdar’s technology initiatives and explain in an entertaining way to children and adults how jet fuel can be made from plant seed.”