Air Transport Management MSc (Executive)

To provide a solid understanding of the key challenges and issues currently impacting and shaping the international air transport industry, and likely to do so in the foreseeable future. 

• Evolution of airline strategies
• FSNC and LCCs
• Air cargo and integration
• Global airport business
• Airport-airline relationship
• Airport commercial revenues
• Performance metrics and success factors
• Global air network competition and development
• The impact of new technologies, products and services
• Air transport and the environment
• Sustainable growth in air transport industry
• Future air transport industry prospects

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

1. Determine and assess the key contemporary challenges impacting the international air transport industry to establish importance and impact.
2. Identify and analyse the key metrics that are related to the air transport industry.
3. Assess and evaluate commercial relationship between airlines and airports.
4. Develop key recommendations for air transport industry regarding feasible strategies for future sustainable growth and expanded global reach.
5. Assess the future of air transport based on the likely future key challenges and issues air transport. 
   
   
   

To provide a sound understanding of those economic concepts which are particularly relevant to decision-making in the air transport industry.

• Demand and supply analysis
• Profit maximisation and cost minimisation in the competitive environment
• Market entry barriers in aviation 
• Structure of airline and airport costs
• Airline pricing and revenue management
• Introduction to financial statements
• Financial ratios and airline and airport evaluation
• Source of finance and aircraft leasing
• Investment appraisals
• Economic regulation 
  
   

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

1. Assess the fundamental elements of finance and economic theory that are applied to analyse aviation markets.
2. Critically analyse the economic and financial characteristics of airlines and airports and the sources of revenues and structure of costs.
3. Calculate, analyse and benchmark airline and airport economic and financial performance (costs, financial ratios etc.). 
4. Critically examine the different sources of finance available in the air transport industry.
5. Evaluate and apply different investment appraisal techniques.
   
   

To assist air transport managers to formulate and implement strategies in order to create sustained competitive advantage.

To provide a sound comprehension of how marketing concepts and theories can be applied to the air transport industry, considering its unique nature. 

Introduction to strategic air transport management 
Core concepts of strategic management
Performing strategic analysis 
Strategies used to respond to competition and competitive advantage 
Airline business diversification strategies 
Introduction to marketing 
Consumer behaviour
Market segmentation
Airline and airport products
Customer experience and journey 
Branding, promotional communication and loyalty
Distribution 
Pricing and revenue management
Airport route development and marketing

On successful completion of this module you will be able to: 

1. Identify, appraise and critique strategic management and marketing concepts applied by airlines and airports. 
2. Assess how different strategies impact the competitiveness of airlines and airports, including the planning of products and the importance of product differentiation.
3. Examine the characteristics of the main segments of airline and airport markets.
4. Assess the links between advertising, pricing, promotion, branding and customer behaviour.

To provide an introduction to the individual and the group in the organisation – how and why people differ. 
To introduce frameworks that aid interpersonal understanding, communication and relationships. 
To introduce the notion of personality and emotional competence. 
To consider the importance of relationships at work. 
To discuss the importance of effective feedback. 
To introduce the concept of group dynamics and effective teams. 
To explore the effectiveness of different leadership styles. 
To provide an introduction to, conflict and control, power, politics and influence in organisations. 
To introduce and understand the role of organisational culture in change. 
To explore the challenges of leading change
To reflect on the learning on the course and its applicability in the learners working environment and future career plans

Generally the curriculum will develop from a critical view of the individual through an understanding of his or her relationships at work with respect to membership of groups and teams. This module provides understanding of various perspectives on the effective leadership of change, paying particular attention to the role of organisational culture. 
Specifically, the syllabus will include: 

• Introduction to personal and professional development 
• Individual differences and learning
• Group dynamics and team roles
• Relationships, personality and motivation
• Organisational culture
• Power, politics and influence
• Operational change approaches
• Leadership of change and leadership paradoxes
• Leadership and coaching

The module will be supported by coaching and mentoring sessions and at the end of the taught component of the MSc course, will reflect on the learning that has been made on the course and how this affects the learners professional and personal development.

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

1. Examine the diverse nature of organisations and how people, management and strategy are influenced by internal and external factors.
2. Critique a wide range of Leadership competencies, styles and techniques.
3. Identify key challenges in change processes and develop effective leadership interventions.
4. Critically reflect on personal strengths and weaknesses, including an understanding of how they are perceived by peers.
5.  Appraise the professional and personal development with regards to the learning on the course and its applicability in the air transport industry and based on this, develop a plan of action for future personal and professional development

To provide a industrial case where knowledge and skills gained from the taught components of the course can be applied to solving an air transport management problem.

• Introduction to the project
• Progress review

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate the operational, strategic, economic and financial performance of an air transport organisation in a holistic way.
2. Collect and analyse information and industry data from a variety of sources to support a case study analysis.
3. Plan, manage and execute an industrial project to a deadline.
4. Competently defend the findings of the project.

Obtain the theory and knowledge, skills of ‘demand forecasting’, and apply to the practical work for the air transport industry.

• Introduction to air traffic forecasting
• Air travel demand
• Market analysis
• Trend analysis
• Time series analysis
• Market share forecasts
• Long term forecasts
• Econometric modelling
• Evaluating forecasting results

Crisis management is a topic area relevant to airlines, airports and other organisations involved with delivering air transport. These organisations typically have dedicated personnel and departments to emergency response and crisis planning. The aim of this course is to provide students with an overview of how to plan for crises, what to expect when they happen, and how to deal with practicalities such as dealing with media, survivors and in the longer term, insurers.

Crisis management planning

Crisis communications

Critical function and risk analysis

Business continuity development and strategy

Crisis management exercise

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• Describe the key elements of a crisis 
• Analyse the importance of effective crisis management
• Critically evaluate past aviation crisis management
• Facilitate business continuity planning.

To provide students with the fundamentals of the aircraft selection and fleet planning process and their impact on the financial viability of operators. 

• Aircraft performance, economic analysis and financial evaluation 
• Data sources and modelling techniques 
• Defining the aircraft product 
• Evaluation of competing products  
  
   
  
   

On successful completion of this module you will be able to: 

1. Describe and evaluate the principles of fleet planning;
2. Analyse the performance and economics of different aircraft types;
3. Apply key fleet planning principles and ideas in a real-world airline context.  

To provide a sound comprehension of how legal concepts and regulatory policies affect and apply to the global air transport industry, considering its unique nature. 

• International regulation 
• EU regulatory policy 
• Introduction to international aviation law
• The 1944 Chicago Convention 
• Geopolitics and aviation 
• Airline liability 
• The bilateral system
• EU competition law 
• Impact of deregulation/liberalisation 
• Safety regulations ICAO
• Safety regulations EASA/H&S 
• Environmental regulation 
  
   

On successful completion of this module you will be able to: 

1. Evaluate the contemporary relevance and ongoing effectiveness of the 1944 Chicago Convention for global aviation;
2. Assess and explore the role of geopolitics in global aviation, including how international relations and geographical location impact and shape the airline industry;
3. Identify and explore core aviation law theories, concepts and debates and assess how these intersect within a multidisciplinary context;
4. Detail and analyse how changes in economic regulation and competition law have influenced the evolution of air transport markets around the world today;
5. Develop and apply a systematic understanding of important aspects of the Warsaw and Montreal Conventions and be able to apply these to solving real-word and scenario-based cases concerning legal liability. 

To provide students with the fundamentals of the disciplines associated with the management of aircraft maintenance and engineering.

• Maintenance Programme Development – balancing of technical requirements and operational priorities; Maintenance Steering Group 3 process.
• Optimisation of maintenance - Outsourcing/In House Maintenance; Application of Lean principles to Maintenance operations; Maintenance planning; Maintenance costs.
• Human Factors in Aircraft Maintenance - Error types; Classification systems; Maintenance Error Management System; Maintenance Error Decision Aid (MEDA) & other resources.
• Logistics and supply chain management.
• Linkages between manufacturer, operator and maintenance organisation.
• Continuing airworthiness management and Regulatory aspects (EASA Part M).
• Health and usage monitoring, engine condition monitoring etc.

To provide students with knowledge, understanding and skills in airport operations.

• Airport management systems
• Airside and landside operations
• Airport social media
• Control of emergencies and contingency planning
• Airport security
• Airport safety management systems and risk assessment
• Airport customer service

Obtain the theory, knowledge and technique to assess the environmental impact related to the aviation industry, and appraise it in the different point of views according to the stakeholders.

• Aviation, the environment and economy
• Environmental economics, issues and policy, abatement cost of carbon, and cost benefit analysis
• Measuring airlines’ carbon footprints including workshop
• Forecasting aviation’s carbon emissions
• Industry structure and airline emissions
• Technology and operational solutions
• Noise, local air quality, and climate change regulations, protocols and industry self-management
• Airport environmental management
• Airport surface access
• Passenger engagement with aviation environmental issues
• Managing demand and mitigation

To ensure that upon completion of the module, you will have acquired the required level of knowledge and skills to successfully tackle real-world airport strategic planning problems.  

• Site selection for new airports 
• Airport Master Planning 
• Flexible strategic planning 
• Airport policy and the planning process 
• Airport catchment areas and ground transport access 
• Airport competition and connectivity 
• Digital transformation and strategy 
• Airport stakeholder relations 
• The influence of airline behaviour on airport planning 
• Case studies in airport strategic planning 

To provide students with the fundamental skills required to manage operational safety within the aviation industry.

• The fundamentals of a Safety Management System, and introduction to associated guidance material provided by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and other State safety regulatory bodies; 
• Safety data, safety information and analyses; including reporting systems, investigation and Flight Data Monitoring (FDM);
• Hazard identification and risk management, including an introduction to Enterprise Risk Management (ERM); 
• Safety performance and safety health; including guidance on audits and safety promotion; 
• Safety organisations, including guidance on effective management of safety teams. 

On successful completion of this module you will be able to: 

• Describe the fundamental concepts behind Safety Management Systems (SMS), as defined by ICAO and other regulatory bodies;
• Select and implement techniques for the identification, quantification and management of hazards and risks;
• Critically assess strategies for developing and enhancing safety culture including the role of leadership, structure and reporting systems;
• Identify techniques for measuring safety performance; 

To provide students with the knowledge, understanding and skills in the design of airports and associated facilities in respect to contemporary commercial requirements.

• Airport capacity on land- and airside. 
• Airfield configuration including runway, apron and taxiways. 
• Terminal layouts. 
• Surface access design.
• Baggage handling. 
• IT systems in terminal design.
• Aircraft performance and airport design. 
• Impact of changing industry requirements on airport design. 
• Passenger flow simulation. 
• Case studies in airport design. 

On successful completion of this module you will be able to: 

1. Demonstrate a clear understanding and knowledge of the fundamental principles of sustainable airport design within the context of climate change, constantly evolving airline requirements and radical alterations to airport surface access as well as international and local aviation policies;
2. Explore and explain the impact of aircraft performance and characteristics onto the design of the airport infrastructure, including traditional kerosine-, SAF-, electric- and hydrogen-powered fixed-wing aircraft and eVTOL;
3. Assess, measure and calculate the capacity of airport sub-systems and possess the skills to model passenger flows using design simulation software;
4. Elaborate future requirements of airports in response to their business diversification and the need to integrate new forms of passenger services supporting the evolution of the airport business model;
5. Examine and evaluate the ability of airport design to respond to changing requirements within the global economy and growing passenger expectations.

To ensure that when students complete the module they will have received the required level of knowledge and relevant sets of skills in order to apply these competently to help them solve business and management problems in regional aviation.

• Regional airline economics
• Regional airline strategy
• Regional airline network planning
• Regional aircraft performance and economics
• Regional airline fleet planning
• Management of regional airports and ATC
• Subsidies, public service obligations, and other support mechanisms
• Case studies and practitioner visiting online lectures

To provide students with an understanding of the developments in technology and digitalisation in the airline sector and how this impacts the airline business.  

Developments of IT within the airline sector (e.g. blockchain)
Digital transformation processes
Data sources in airline management
The use of data within airlines (e.g. forecasting)
Airline e-commerce
Social media
Digital developments in airline operations (flight and ground operations, air cargo, MRO)

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

1. Examine the characteristics and key drivers of technology in the airline sector.
2. Assess the potential applications of technology and the digital transformation process in the airline sector.
3. Appraise the role of e-commerce and social media in the airline sector.
4. Identify and judge the data sources available in airline management.
5. Examine the data available in the airline sector and assess its usefulness in airline management.