Overview
- Start dateOctober
- DurationOne year full-time
- DeliveryTaught modules 50%, Group project 10%, Individual research project 40%
- QualificationMSc
- Study typeFull-time
- CampusCranfield campus
Who is it for?
Cranfield University is the only university in the world to run an English language master's course in airport planning and management. Achieving this highly relevant and globally respected degree will enable you to stand out in a competitive employment market.
Cranfield's Centre for Air Transport Management combines a wealth of practical expertise with extensive research, consultancy and teaching experience in one centre of excellence. We have been providing postgraduate education for almost sixty years. You can be sure that your qualification will be valued and respected by employers throughout the world.
Why this course?
In addition to management, communication, team work and research skills, you will attain the following learning outcomes from this course:
- A systematic understanding of relevant international and national regulations and the ability to explain their effects on airport business, planning, design, operations and safety management decisions
- A critical awareness of the key issues that affect users of airport facilities (e.g. airlines and retailers) and the ability to explain the impact of their commercial pressures, strategic decisions and priorities on airport business, planning, design, operations and safety management decisions
- How to identify, analyse and design solutions in order to address a given research problem within the context of airport planning and management, having regard to regulatory constraints and commercial and environmental imperatives
- Undertake and successfully complete a substantial programme of independent research, applying robust methods of data collection and analysis, and communicating the findings coherently.
Cranfield University is very well located for visiting 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
Directed by an industrial advisory committee comprising senior representatives from leading airports and associated sectors. This group meets annually to ensure that the course content will equip you with the skills and knowledge required by leading employers.
Industrial Advisory Committee members include:
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Catherine Ashman, Head of Asset Insights and Analysis, Manchester Airports Group
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George Efkolides, Head of Customer Experience, IAG Cargo
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Matthew Butters, Project Director, Pascall+Watson
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Miriam Ryan, Chief Governance and Strategy Officer & Company Secretary, DAA
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Andrew Gibson, Aviation Technical Lead, Jacobs
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Rob Rushmer, Principal, ICF
Course details
Nine compulsory taught modules, a group project and an individual research project.
Course delivery
Taught modules 50%, Group project 10%, Individual research project 40%
Group project
In April students are divided into groups of seven to ten, and asked to solve a current airport planning and management challenge. The group project draws upon the learning from the taught modules and applies it to real-life simulation. Each member is required to take responsibility for a key area, for example, market analysis, capital expenditure forecast or terminal design. The group submits a report of their findings and recommendations and delivers a presentation to staff, students and industry experts.
Projects are usually supported by industry and potential future employers value this experience. Industry involvement is an integral component to the group project, to give you first-hand experience of working within real life challenging situations.
Previous Group Projects have included:
- Evaluating the business case for extending the runway at Birmingham Airport
- The preparation of development plans for two new airports in South-West England
- Designing a new passenger terminal for Leeds-Bradford International Airport.
Individual project
The individual research project is the single largest component of this course and is an opportunity to study a problem in detail. Sponsoring organisations may co-operate in the choice of a suitable subject. Project topics vary widely and are often based on your area of interest. The individual research project component typically takes place between April and August.
Previous individual research projects have included:
- An analysis of the hubbing strategy of Air France/KLM at Amsterdam Schiphol airport
- The implications of secondary slot trading on airport revenues
- Air traffic distribution in a multi-airport environment; the Mumbai metropolitan region
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.
Introduction to the Air Transport Industry
| Aim |
|
|---|---|
| Syllabus |
• The airport business • Airport planning, design and operations • Aircraft characteristics and trends • Aviation safety and security • Sustainability in air transport • Air transport and the economy • Aviation regulation and geopolitics • Multimodality and surface transport complementarity • Corporate citizenship and social responsibility • Passenger experience |
| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to: 1. Describe the key components of the air transport system, explain their essential characteristics and illustrate the challenges they face; 2. Recognise and interpret the environmental, operational, economic and geopolitical dimensions of the aviation industry; 3. Collect information from a variety of electronic (internet) and hard copy sources to support research in air transport management; 4. Appraise and critique the work of air transport practitioners and specialists; 5. Communicate effectively in written form in the context of air transport management |
Airport Operations
| Module Leader |
|
|---|---|
| Aim |
|
| Syllabus |
• Airside and landside operations • Airport technical services • 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. |
Airport Finance and Business Management
| Module Leader |
|
|---|---|
| Aim |
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 airport business management problems. |
| Syllabus |
• Airport aeronautical charges & airport-airline relations • Air cargo for airport managers • Airport retail, F&B & media sales • Contract models for airport commercial business processes • Commercial management of ground transportation • Airport costs, out-sourcing and the business of capital investment • Airline network strategy • Airport marketing and route development • Introduction to Finance • Financial statements and ratios • Investment appraisal • Airport competition and strategy • Airport economic regulation • Airport ownership and privatisation • The airport ground handling business • Measuring airport business performance • Case studies in digitalisation, out-sourcing, retail, strategy and market research from visiting lecturers • Group exercises |
| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to: 1. Assess the financial performance of airports through analysis, interpretation and evaluation of financial statements and business performance ratios. 2. Evaluate the financial feasibility of proposed airport development projects through applying appropriate investment appraisal techniques. 3. Calculate an airport’s level of aeronautical charges using turnaround cost and aeronautical yield approaches and to critically discuss the results within the context of its business development prospects. 4. Explain relevant concepts of micro-economic theory and their application to the airport industry. 5. Critically evaluate a problem relating to airport business development. |
Regulatory Policy and Air Law
| Aim |
|
|---|---|
| Syllabus |
• EU regulatory policy • Introduction to air law • The 1944 Chicago convention • Airline liability • EU air law • EU competition law • Impact of deregulation • Introduction to airport regulation • Safety regulations ICAO • Safety regulations EASA/H&S • Environmental regulation |
| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to: 1. Evaluate the contemporary relevance and ongoing effectiveness of the 1944 Chicago Convention for global aviation. 2. Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the respective roles of air transport industry regulatory institutions and be able to evaluate their effectiveness. 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. |
Research Methods and Statistics
| Aim |
To facilitate the use of basic research methods and fundamentals of statistical analysis to solve research problems in the air transport industry. |
|---|---|
| Syllabus |
Research methods Statistics and quantitative data analysis |
| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to: 1. Evaluate and select the most appropriate research methods and statistical techniques in application to different research needs 2. Critically evaluate research from methodological perspective in terms of its suitability and effectiveness 3. Formulate and demonstrate practical application of research methods in the theoretical design of a study 4. Interpret and evaluate basic statistical results of research/consultancy reports. 5. Propose and apply analysis and interpretation skills appropriately to a substantial dataset. |
Air Transport Market Analysis and Forecasting
| Module Leader |
|
|---|---|
| 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. |
Airport Strategic Planning
| Module Leader |
|
|---|---|
| Aim |
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 completely to solve airport strategic planning problems as practitioners |
| Syllabus |
• Site selection for new airports • Airport policy and the planning process • Flexible strategic planning • Airport stakeholder relations • Airport Surface Access Planning • Economic impact of airports • The impact of airline industry changes on airport planning • Workshop on airport planning • Case studies in airport strategic planning |
| 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. |
Air Transport Environmental Planning
| Module Leader |
|
|---|---|
| Aim |
|
| Syllabus |
• Airport environmental capacity • Environmental policy and regulation • Communicating with the media and related stakeholders • Environmental Life Cycle Assessment • Alternative Sustainable Aviation Fuels • Sustainable Propulsion Systems • Environmental impact assessment • Sustainable Airport Master Planning • Calculating aAircraft emissions • Terminal and ground transport emissions • Airport Local Air Qquality and Climate Change • Airport noise modelling: theory and practice • Airport noise mitigation strategies • Psychological factors of noise annoyance: community relations • Noise annoyance and Community Relations • Circular economic principles in aviation • Combatting of wildlife trafficking in aviation • Case studies • Role-play exercise |
| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to: 1. Demonstrate an appreciation of the key features and characteristics of the environmental externalities of air transport at varying spatial scales. 2. Critically analyse the various technical, commercial, economic and political dimensions of environmental impact mitigation. 3. Identify current and future environmental policy and regulatory controls on the air transport industry and assess trade-offs between competing priorities. 4. Demonstrate the application of different techniques for measuring and calculating the environmental impacts of air transport. 5. To develop and communicate an environmental strategic plan for air transport. |
Airport Design
| Module Leader |
|
|---|---|
| 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 |
• 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. |
| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should 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 |
Group Project
Individual Research Project
| Aim |
The award of a Masters degree resulting from a taught programme of study requires the student to submit a thesis based on a structured programme of research. This structured programme is typically delivered through collaboration with an industrial sponsor; although it may it may be driven by research interests of the School’s academics. The thesis should satisfactorily set out the results of the structured programme and demonstrate the candidate’s ability to conduct original investigations, to test ideas (whether the candidate’s own or those of others) and to obtain appropriate conclusions from the work. In most cases, the results of the research programme should be set in the context of related work previously published by others. The student is required to communicate their findings in a thesis and through a viva voce, oral presentation and a poster. |
|---|---|
| Syllabus |
|
| Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to: 1. Identify a research question. 2. Develop project objectives. 3. Select and justify methodologies appropriate to the task. 4. Plan and execute a work programme with reference to professional project management processes (e.g. time management; risk management; contingency planning; resource allocation; health and safety). 5. Evaluate and critically analyse literature; analyse data, synthesise a discussion, generate conclusions. 6. Place the findings of the work into the context of the work of others. 7. Communicate findings in the form of a thesis, formal presentation and viva. |
Teaching team
You will be taught by Cranfield's Centre for Air Transport Management's leading experts and recognised external specialists. This multi-disciplinary group includes a unique blend of airport economists, transport geographers, marketing specialists, and aeronautical engineers with strong publication records and industry experience. The course director for this programme is Dr Thomas Budd.
Your career
Working in an airport environment offers varied and exciting career possibilities. Graduates should be able to pursue a career working for an airport authority in business development, operations, design and planning or with one of the many planning and management consultancies that advise airports across the world.
Our passion for the areas of expertise we operate in, and our hands-on relationship with industry are unparalleled. This is recognised globally by potential employers and we have a proven record of graduate employment across airports, consultancies and associated industries.
Previous graduates have secured employment with a range of companies including:
- Arup
- Jacobs Consultancy
- Mott MacDonald
- Airbus
- Korean Airports Corporation
- Malaysian Airports
- SH&E
- Aviation Economics
- Heathrow Airport.
We also provide access to our exclusive LinkedIn Cranfield University - Air Transport Group, which offers unrivalled networking and job opportunities.
How to apply
Applications need to be made online. Click the 'Apply now' button at the top of this page.
Once you have set up an account you will be able to create, save and amend your application form before submitting it.
"This course has such a strong reputation in the aviation industry and is recognised and well known by many experts. During my master's we had many industry experts and CEOs visiting and giving lectures."
Victor Ravelli, Airport Planner
