Overview
- Start dateMarch or June or November
- DurationMSc: up to three years part-time. PgDip: two years part-time
- DeliveryTaught Module 50%, Individual case study 10%, Individual research project 40%
- QualificationMSc, PgDip, PgCert
- Study typeExecutive
- CampusCranfield campus, External
Who is it for?
Created to meet the demand for more flexible executive teaching in air transport management, this course is suitable for those who require a broad knowledge of air transport management strategic issues whilst remaining in full-time employment. It combines compulsory air transport core learning with an increased focus on leadership and personal development including managerial, interpersonal, financial and analytical skills. Accelerate your career development by focusing on subjects that match your individual interests and career aspirations.
Your career
Successful completion of this course will gain you an internationally recognised qualification which benefits from the Cranfield reputation and can take you onto new levels of your career anywhere in the world. We provide access to our exclusive LinkedIn Cranfield University - Air Transport Group, which offers unrivalled networking and job opportunities.
This qualification facilitates accelerated career development for many of our graduates. One former graduate began his studies as an Operations Manager and was promoted three times during his study – he is now the Deputy CEO and credits the course for enabling his progression by allowing him to take a broader view of his organisation than his original role..
Other roles our former graduates have gone on to occupy include:
- Financial Controller at Rolls-Royce plc
- Head of Market Intelligence at Cargolux
Why this course?
The MSc Air Transport Management has been established since 1964. The course has an outstanding global reputation with over 1,500 graduates to date. We recognise the challenges faced by our executive students and have reduced the required number of visits to Cranfield through the introduction of several distance learning modules as well as the opportunity to join lectures "live online". This enables students from all over the world to complete this qualification whilst balancing work/life commitments.
We are very well located for students from all over the world and offers a range of library and support facilities to support your studies. This MSc programme benefits from students from a wide range of cultural backgrounds which significantly enhances the learning experience for both staff and students.
Informed by Industry
The course is directed by feedback from industry, including senior representatives from leading airlines and associated sectors. This feedback and ensures that the course content remains up-to-date and equips you with the skills and knowledge required by leading employers.
We regularly invite senior industry experts to present to our students. Previous speakers have included:
- John Strickland, Director JLS Consulting
- Brian Pearce, Former Chief Economist of the International Air Transport Association (IATA)
Course details
Whilst working full-time for an airline, I was interested in a postgraduate programme that would take my knowledge of this exciting industry to the next level. Only one course came highly recommended by virtually everybody in the industry I spoke to: the Executive Air Transport Management MSc at Cranfield University. It’s not just one thing that sets this course apart – it’s everything about it.
The academic rigour that challenges, the world-class academic staff who inspire, the practical examples that go beyond the classroom and the extensive network that opens doors. I’m excited about my future with Cranfield behind me all the way.
Cranfield offers an inspiring, challenging and rewarding academic environment. I find staff very competent, motivating and flexible. Having the possibility to share knowledge as industry professionals among each other is truly valuable. I can highly recommend the course!
The taught programme for the Air Transport Management masters starts three times a year and is comprised of seven modules (five compulsory and two optional). Most modules are completed over one-week periods plus additional content delivered online (in your own time) on our Virtual Learning Environment so you are only expected to make three trips per year to Cranfield to complete the taught modules. You can alternatively choose to follow lectures “live online”, i.e. synchronously, if you cannot attend a module in person for professional or personal reasons. Some optional modules are available for distance learning only.
Course delivery
Taught Module 50%, Individual case study 10%, Individual research project 40%
Individual project
The thesis is undertaken during the final year of your studies. It provides an opportunity to study a problem in detail, and sponsoring organisations may collaborate in the choice of a suitable subject. This allows you to demonstrate the application of your learning to real-life problems.
Previous theses have included:
- Route selection strategies of the low cost carriers: the case of Ryanair and easyJet
- Sustainable business models for airlines in Africa
- Ancillary revenues in airlines and their implication for revenue management.
Modules
Keeping our courses up-to-date and current requires constant innovation and change. The modules we offer reflect the needs of business and industry and the research interests of our staff and, as a result, may change or be withdrawn due to research developments, legislation changes or for a variety of other reasons. Changes may also be designed to improve the student learning experience or to respond to feedback from students, external examiners, accreditation bodies and industrial advisory panels.
To give you a taster, we have listed the compulsory and elective (where applicable) modules which are currently affiliated with this course. All modules are indicative only, and may be subject to change for your year of entry.
Course modules
Compulsory modules
All the modules in the following list need to be taken as part of this course.
The Air Transport Industry Challenges and Issues
Aim |
|
---|---|
Syllabus |
|
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
|
Air Transport Economics and Financial Management
Aim |
To provide a sound understanding of those economic concepts which are particularly relevant to decision-making in the air transport industry. |
---|---|
Syllabus |
|
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
|
Air Transport Strategic and Marketing Management
Aim |
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. |
---|---|
Syllabus |
Introduction to strategic air transport management |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
|
Professional and Personal Development for Leaders in Aviation
Aim |
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 |
---|---|
Syllabus |
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. 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. |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
|
Individual Case Study in Air Transport Management
Aim |
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. |
---|---|
Syllabus |
|
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
|
Elective modules
One of modules from the following list need to be taken as part of this course
Air Transport Market Analysis and Forecasting
Aim |
|
---|---|
Syllabus |
• Air travel demand • Market analysis • Trend analysis • Time series analysis • Market share forecasts • Long term forecasts • Econometric modelling • Evaluating forecasting results |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to: 1. Appraise key factors affecting demand for air travel. 2. Analyse data and select the most appropriate model to produce a traffic forecast. 3. Evaluate forecasting methods and interpret the results with confidence. 4. Appraise and critique the work of other practitioners and specialists. 5. Communicate effectively, in written form, the research work produced. |
Crisis Management and Business Continuity
Aim |
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. |
---|---|
Syllabus |
Crisis management planning |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
|
Airline Fleet Planning
Aim |
|
---|---|
Syllabus |
|
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
|
Geopolitics and International Aviation Law
Aim |
|
---|---|
Syllabus |
|
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
|
Air Transport Engineering - Maintenance Operations
Aim |
|
---|---|
Syllabus |
• 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. |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to: 1. Describe the principles of reliability with direct relation to aircraft availability. 2. Outline a maintenance management programme, including the interface with operations, supply chain and cost issues. 3. Critically appraise the various aircraft maintenance philosophies used for in-service aircraft. 4. Develop a process for achieving continuing airworthiness management with the appropriate regulatory approval. |
Airport Operations
Aim |
|
---|---|
Syllabus |
• 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 |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to: 1. Explain key airport operations and describe their contribution to service provision; 2. Evaluate the thought processes required in effective airport business recovery following an airport incident or process change; 3. Critique the requirement for (and the components of) a robust airport security plan and safety management system. |
Air Transport Environmental Planning
Aim |
|
---|---|
Syllabus |
• 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 |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to: 1. Demonstrate a clear understanding of fundamental environmental economics and the analytical tools to assess aviation’s impact on the environment. 2. Understand models to estimate aircraft emissions. 3. Appraise the environmental impacts from air transport, locally, regionally and globally. 4. Identify current and future environmental regulatory controls on the air transport industry and assess trade-offs between environmental priorities. |
Airport Strategic Planning
Aim |
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. |
---|---|
Syllabus |
|
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to: 1. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the process of airport capacity planning within the context of changing airline industry structure, national airport policy goals and planning constraints; 2. Identify the key components involved in approving airport development projects and be able to appraise the arguments for and against expansion; 3. Compare, analyse and assess different location options for new airports and understanding the interaction of key variables in the decision-making process; 4. Collect information from a variety of electronic (internet) and hard copy sources to support research; 5. Appraise and critique the work of other practitioners and specialists, communicate effectively, in written form, research work produced, and complete coursework to set deadlines. |
Aviation Safety Management
Aim |
|
---|---|
Syllabus |
|
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
|
Airport Design
Aim |
To provide students with the knowledge, understanding and skills in the design of airports and associated facilities in respect to contemporary commercial requirements. |
---|---|
Syllabus |
|
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
|
Regional Aviation
Aim |
|
---|---|
Syllabus |
• 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 |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to: 1. Discuss the key economic and business features that are common to regional airlines and evaluate how these differ from other airline business models. 2. Critically analyse and appraise business problems relating to regional airline strategy and network planning. 3. Critically evaluate the performance characteristics of regional aircraft in the context of regional airline fleet planning and the implications on business performance. 4. Critically evaluate the common economic and business challenges faced by airports and providers of ATC in regional markets. 5. Critically analyse and appraise policy challenges relating to the use of essential air service support mechanisms that are often applied to remote / peripheral regional markets. |
Digital Airline Management
Aim |
|
---|---|
Syllabus |
Developments of IT within the airline sector (e.g. blockchain) |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
|
Teaching team
You will be taught by one of the largest academic groups in the world specialising in air transport management. This multidisciplinary group includes a unique blend of air transport economists, marketing specialists and aeronautical engineers with strong publication records and industry experience.
How to apply
Click on the ‘Apply Now’ button to start your online application.
There is a non-refundable application fee of £75 for this course for 2024-25 entry onward. Find out more about the application fee and how to pay it.
See our Application guide for information on our application process and entry requirements.