A flight attendant is taking surreal photographs that show what flights look like in the middle of the pandemic

Monica HumphriesApr 21, 2020, 22:18 IST

A flight attendant ties a face mask.Molly Choma

Molly Choma is a flight attendant for Alaska Airlines.
As one of the remaining flight attendants still working, she's documenting her experience through photography.
Choma told Insider that the flights feel "pensive and empty," which is the message she's trying to recreate in her images.
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Molly Choma still wears lipstick underneath her face mask when she works, simply because it makes her smile more.

As a flight attendant working during the pandemic, many of her passengers are in need of a smile. Her near-empty flights carry medical staff to hospitals and family members to loved ones.

Choma is one of the remaining flight attendants still working.

The coronavirus has drastically reduced flights. In the US alone, the number of travelers screened by the Transportation Security Administration has decreased by more than 96%, according to APM Research Lab. Worldwide, there were an estimated 40% fewer flights at the end of March compared to the previous year.

Choma brought her mom's Nikon camera to the airport 11 years ago. Now, the 33-year-old works as a flight attendant and photographer. During downtime on her flights, Choma captures images of her coworkers.

The Alaska Airlines flight attendant believes the photographs she's taking during the pandemic will help create archives of what life was like for her and her colleagues.

"The pattern of human resilience is amazing," she told Insider. "But it's really important to have these times on some sort of record. And to be appreciative when, eventually, the economy picks back up."

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"I know that someday people will be flying again," the flight attendant said.

Alaska Airlines flight attendants are provided face masks, Molly Choma told Insider. Molly Choma

For now, her focus is on the few people still flying.

While the feeling isn't necessarily sadness, Molly Choma hopes to convey a message of exhaustion in her photographs. Molly Choma

Choma never thought she'd miss the full flights.

A flight attendant poses for a photograph on a dark plane. Molly Choma

And for flight attendants who aren't flying, it's a glance at what work currently looks like.

Molly Choma said all passengers come prepared for the flight. "They have masks; they have gloves; they sanitize the seats," she told Insider. "They're very aware of the potential consequences of traveling by air." Molly Choma

While the photos are heavy, Choma said taking them provides her coworkers with a distraction.

At first, the flight attendants were unsure of how to wear their masks. Molly Choma

"It's the first time, that I've experienced, in the service industry, where you're like, 'Actually, I'm not OK,'" the flight attendant said.

A flight attendant closes the empty overhead bins. Molly Choma

A lot of flight attendants are handling the situation through humor, but Choma wanted to showcase something different.

Molly Choma's subjects are coworkers she's worked with for years. Molly Choma

At first, Choma was worried about her photographs feeling intrusive.

Three flight attendants for Alaska Airlines. Molly Choma

The idea for the photo series sparked from a conversation with a friend.

Molly Choma is capturing the more pensive, harder sides of being a flight attendant during the pandemic, she said. Molly Choma

Choma acknowledges the danger that comes with working in the middle of a pandemic, but flying has always been dangerous, she said.

A flight attendant readjusts her mask. Molly Choma

"It's an instinctive, guttural thing to keep flying," Choma said about her decision to keep working during the pandemic.

Molly Choma is pictured above. The photographer is usually behind the camera. Molly Choma

Her photographs evoke somber emotions. The flight attendant described her passengers stepping onto the plane and "holding the weight of the world."

This was one of the first photographs Molly Choma took in the series. It's still her favorite, she told Insider. Molly Choma

Molly Choma, an Alaska Airlines flight attendant and photographer, is capturing photos of her empty flights. "Part of it is me processing how I am emotionally dealing with the situation, and part of it was wanting to preserve these memories," she told Insider.

A flight attendant presents a safety demo to a nearly vacant plane. Molly Choma

Molly Choma, an Alaska Airlines flight attendant and photographer, is capturing photos of her empty flights. "Part of it is me processing how I am emotionally dealing with the situation, and part of it was wanting to preserve these memories," she told Insider.

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A flight attendant is taking surreal photographs that show what flights look like in the middle of the pandemic

"I know that someday people will be flying again," the flight attendant said.

For now, her focus is on the few people still flying.

Choma never thought she'd miss the full flights.

And for flight attendants who aren't flying, it's a glance at what work currently looks like.

While the photos are heavy, Choma said taking them provides her coworkers with a distraction.

"It's the first time, that I've experienced, in the service industry, where you're like, 'Actually, I'm not OK,'" the flight attendant said.

A lot of flight attendants are handling the situation through humor, but Choma wanted to showcase something different.

At first, Choma was worried about her photographs feeling intrusive.

The idea for the photo series sparked from a conversation with a friend.

Choma acknowledges the danger that comes with working in the middle of a pandemic, but flying has always been dangerous, she said.

"It's an instinctive, guttural thing to keep flying," Choma said about her decision to keep working during the pandemic.

Her photographs evoke somber emotions. The flight attendant described her passengers stepping onto the plane and "holding the weight of the world."

Molly Choma, an Alaska Airlines flight attendant and photographer, is capturing photos of her empty flights. "Part of it is me processing how I am emotionally dealing with the situation, and part of it was wanting to preserve these memories," she told Insider.