A time of "golden age" for flight attendants.

Brian Finke spent years exploring and learning about the development of this unique service industry, documenting it in his book "Flight Attendants." For two consecutive years, he traveled the skies on airplanes, observing the lives of flight attendants from Delta Air Lines, Hooters Air, Southwest, Air France, British Airways, Air Asia, and dozens of other airlines.

In his photos, the flight attendants, with their perfectly styled hair and small hats, are smiling at the camera or concentrating on their work. They look like professional models appearing in some glossy travel magazine.

The profession of flight attendant is believed to have begun in the 1930s. Initially, they were simply hospital nurses hired to serve passengers on airplanes, as nurses were considered gentle and patient – ​​ideal candidates for airlines. Later, petite women also became sought after, as they could easily navigate the narrow aisles of early aircraft.

Gradually, this profession developed into an attractive field for young women to access broader career prospects, have more opportunities for independence, travel frequently, and meet potential partners and spouses. Some see it as a stepping stone to becoming models or actresses.

In the preface to Brian Finke's book, author Alix Browne writes: "Finke's approach to photographing flight attendants isn't overly nostalgic, but it's also somewhat ethereal. We encounter them, young women, in their own moments, so familiar that there's nothing particularly special about them – they instruct passengers on safety regulations, smile and wave, as if they're in a commercial."

Browne also stated that while the profession of flight attendant has become more professional and familiar to society today, most people still perceive it as a "separate" job, in a completely separate world. The reality is, flight attendants are just like us; they are ordinary people with ordinary lives.

"Here, in this photo series, beautiful young women are dressed in uniforms like little female soldiers, with a touch of fashion and playfulness. They also do the everyday things we do: leaving home for work, buying toothbrushes, playing billiards, ironing clothes,..."

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