Aviation TV shows give viewers a look into the lives of flight attendants, pilots, and airline staff, from high-stakes cockpit decisions to the daily chaos of airport operations. Whether you’re looking for a flight attendant series, a pilot training documentary, or a reality show about airlines, there are plenty of great options to watch.
This list covers the best aviation TV shows, including stewardess TV shows, airline sitcoms, and real-life airline documentaries. Whether you want drama, comedy, or real behind-the-scenes insights, these are the must-watch series for aviation fans.
1. Mile High (2003-2005) – The flight attendant tv show that shocked audiences
If you’re looking for a TV series about flight attendants, Mile High is the most extreme. This British drama follows the chaotic lives of Fresh! Airlines crew members as they deal with passengers, relationships, and inflight scandals.
- Think soap opera meets budget airline – full of drama, hookups, and unrealistic scenarios.
- It aired on Sky One UK and quickly became infamous for pushing boundaries.
- Real cabin crew found it completely unrealistic, but it was wildly entertaining.
📺 Where to watch: Hard to find legally, but clips exist online.
2. Pan Am (2011-2012) – The air hostess tv show that brought back the jet age
A flight attendant series set in the 1960s, Pan Am captures the golden era of aviation – when flying was glamorous, tickets were expensive, and cabin crew had strict rules to follow.
- Follows the real-life Pan American World Airways during its peak.
- Features a CIA subplot – one flight attendant is secretly working as a spy.
- Visually stunning, but only lasted one season before being canceled.
📺 Where to watch: Available on some streaming platforms.
3. LA to Vegas (2018) – The airline sitcom you probably missed
A sitcom about a budget airline, LA to Vegas follows the same crew and passengers flying between the two cities every weekend.
- Tries to be The Office but on a plane, with quirky crew and weird passengers.
- Dylan McDermott plays Captain Dave, a ridiculous but entertaining pilot.
- Cancelled after one season, but still worth a binge.
📺 Where to watch: Hulu, Amazon Prime.
4. View From The Top (2003) – The air hostess movie that got it all wrong
This flight attendant movie follows Donna (Gwyneth Paltrow), who dreams of becoming a first-class stewardess.
- Completely unrealistic – flight attendants don’t become glamorous international travellers overnight.
- Real cabin crew hated it because it makes the job look way too easy.
- Critics trashed it, but it still has a cult following.
📺 Where to watch: Amazon Prime, DVD.
5. Trolley Dollies (2002) – The cabin crew documentary: Where are they now?
One of the few real-life flight attendant documentaries, Trolley Dollies follows the crew of Excel Airways on actual flights.
- Showcases short-haul and long-haul flights, plus real crew layovers.
- Where are they now? Most crew moved on to new careers, but the show remains a cult classic.
- Unlike Mile High, this is 100% real airline life.
📺 Where to watch: Rare to find, but clips exist on YouTube.
6. The High Life (1994-1995) – The cabin crew sitcom you’ve never heard of
A Scottish airline sitcom, The High Life follows the dysfunctional crew of Air Scotia.
- Dark humor, weird characters, and absurd situations.
- The captain is completely incompetent, and the crew barely know what they’re doing.
- Only one season, but still loved by fans.
📺 Where to watch: BBC archives, online clips.
7. The Flight Attendant School (2006) – Is this the most realistic airline training show?
A documentary about flight attendant training, this show followed Frontier Airlines recruits as they went through a gruelling selection process.
- Real airline training – safety drills, inflight service, and strict rules.
- Highlights the high dropout rate – not everyone makes it.
- A rare realistic look at flight attendant life before joining an airline.
📺 Where to watch: Previously on Travel Channel.
8. The Flight Attendant (2020-2022) – Murder, mystery, and chaos
A dark comedy-thriller, The Flight Attendant is not a typical airline TV show. Starring Kaley Cuoco, it follows Cassie, a reckless flight attendant who wakes up next to a dead passenger with no memory of what happened.
- Suspense + humor—perfect if you like crime dramas.
- Real flight attendants say it captures the chaotic lifestyle but exaggerates everything.
- Season 1 was great, but Season 2 felt unnecessary.
📺 Where to watch: HBO Max, Amazon Prime.
9. Airline (1998-2007, UK) – The best airline TV show for reality fans
A real-life airline documentary, Airline followed the day-to-day operations of EasyJet, offering a behind-the-scenes look at check-in desks, flight crews, and frustrated passengers.
- One of the most realistic airline TV shows, showing actual flight delays, customer meltdowns, and operational challenges.
- Focused on EasyJet staff handling difficult situations – from drunk passengers to last-minute cancellations.
- Aired between 1998 and 2007, it was a hit among aviation fans and reality TV lovers.
📺 Where to watch: Some episodes available on YouTube, UKTV Play.
10. LAX (tv series) – The airport tv show you forgot about
A TV series about airports, LAX focuses on the chaos behind the scenes at Los Angeles International Airport.
- Features Heather Locklear as an airport operations manager.
- Less about pilots and flight attendants – more about airport staff drama.
- One season and gone – it never found an audience.
📺 Where to watch: Difficult to find.
11. Come Fly With Me (2010-2011) – The airline sitcom that mocked every passenger
From the creators of Little Britain, this mockumentary airline sitcom makes fun of every aviation stereotype.
- David Walliams and Matt Lucas play over-the-top airline staff.
- Think The Office meets Airport Security – but entirely absurd.
- Funny but highly exaggerated, so don’t expect realism.
📺 Where to watch: BBC iPlayer, Netflix (some regions).
12. Inside The Cockpit (2017-2019)– The British docuseries about pilot training
A documentary about pilots, Inside The Cockpit follows Ryanair cadets training to become first officers, showing what it takes to go from flight school to the cockpit.
- Real-life footage of pilot training, flight simulations, and first solo flights.
- Covers technical aspects, like learning to land in high winds and handling emergency scenarios.
- Shows the intense pressure pilots face during training and testing.
📺 Where to Watch: Previously aired on ITV, some episodes available online.
Final thoughts: Which one is worth watching?
- For airline operations fans, Airline (UK TV Show) is the most realistic aviation documentary, showing the chaos of real airline work.
- For aspiring pilots, EasyJet: Inside the Cockpit offers an authentic look at pilot training and the challenges of becoming a first officer.
- For cabin crew and aviation enthusiasts, Trolley Dollies gives a rare behind-the-scenes look at flight attendant life on real flights.
Which one do you think best represents aviation life? Drop your thoughts in the comments or start a discussion in the cabin crew forum!