Three Essex applicants have been hand-picked from more than 2,500 hopefuls to become cabin crew on an exclusively business-class airline which took to the skies on January 25.

Three Essex applicants have been hand-picked from more than 2,500 hopefuls to become cabin crew on an exclusively business-class airline which took to the skies on January 25.

The trio graduated after passing rigorous training and exams to fly on Silverjet's London Luton to New York Newark.

Passengers, who pay from £999 return, enjoy a 30-minute check-in time at the airline's private air terminal, and flat beds on board.

Jade Amass, 20, Daniel Bailey, 28, and Thomas Diaper, 22, were among 91 crew hired.

Before they were recruited, they were put through an intensive training programme involving safety and emergency procedures, aviation medicine, and image and grooming training.

Training included line dancing to help the crew improve balance, co-ordination and teamwork - the airline is doing away with trolleys and serving plated food by hand.

Founder and airline chief executive Lawrence Hunt congratulated the crew members on graduating from their training.