Inside the world's top airline headquarters

by Samantha Leese

The best airline headquarters aren't just a place to go to work, they are microcosms for everyone that's involved in the nitty-gritty of air travel, from the CEO to the guy who holds those paddle boards on the runway.

Here are some of the world's most complete airline-headquarters-slash-mini-cities.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.Sitting at the gates of Cathay Pacific City is a replica of the airline's historical second aircraft.This multi-million dollar complex, housing Cathay Pacific’s 3,000-plus staff, is a free shuttle bus ride away from Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok International Airport.

The 72,000-square-meter mini city, which includes a hotel, health club, museum, flight training center and three office towers, as well as retail shops and a food court, opened in 1998.

Among the exhibits in the small history museum, which is tucked above the food court and not open to the public, are vintage arrival and departure boards, newspaper clippings from the airline’s early days and flight attendant uniforms from past decades.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.