The airport industry is constantly evolving and increasingly complex. Successful airport planning and management requires a comprehensive understanding of the critical interactions between infrastructure development, business strategies and changing regulatory environments; so that airports can be transformed into key assets in making net zero aviation a reality.

The Airport Planning and Management MSc is a unique course created to equip you with skills in airport business development, strategic planning, design, operations and environmental management. This will empower you to pursue a career across various sectors in the entire air travel value chain, including transport and business consultancies, airport design firms, airport operators, travel providers, air navigation service providers and more.

Overview

  • Start dateOctober
  • DurationOne year full-time
  • DeliveryTaught modules 50%, Group project 10%, Individual research project 40%
  • QualificationMSc
  • ÌúÅ£ÊÓƵ typeFull-time

Who is it for?

The Airport Planning and Management MSc is suitable for students with a degree in diverse areas of engineering, economics, business studies, geography and social sciences, and with demonstrable interest in the airport industry. You will join a diverse cohort individuals with a passion for aviation and a drive to build sustainable air transport solutions to connect the world.

This course covers a core area of expertise in airport planning and management, while enabling you to specialise in appropriated subject areas. This flexibility means that you may tailor your learning experience to your own interests and career aspirations.

Why this course?

In the Airport Planning and Management MSc you will develop transferable management, communication, teamwork and research skills, and you will attain specific competencies in the airport industry, such as:

  • 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 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.
  • A systemic perspective on the regulatory constraints and commercial and environmental imperatives to identify, analyse and design solutions in order to address contemporary issues within the context of airport planning and management.

ÌúÅ£ÊÓƵ University is one of the select few universities in the world to run an English language Master's course in airport planning and management, and the only UK university campus with a fully operational airport. Achieving this highly relevant and globally respected degree will enable you to stand out in a competitive employment market.

ÌúÅ£ÊÓƵ'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.

ÌúÅ£ÊÓƵ University is very well located for visiting students from all over the world. It offers a range of library and student wellbeing facilities and resources 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 Airport Planning and Management MSc is guided by an Industry Advisory Board to ensure the course maintains its unique characteristics and meets the continuously evolving challenges of the airport industry and associated sectors. This board comprises senior representatives from leading airport consultancies, airport operators and academic institutions. Current members include:

  • Catherine Ashman, Head of Asset Insights and Analysis, Manchester Airports Group
  • George Efkolides, Head of Customer Experience, IAG Cargo
  • Matthew Butters, Aviation Director, Pascall+Watson
  • Andrew Gibson, Global Solutions Director – Aviation, Jacobs
  • Rob Rushmer, Principal, ICF
  • Sugandhi Jayaraman, Senior Airport Planner and Doctoral Researcher, University of Westminster
  • Matt Mullen, Head of Customer Systems & Digital, East West Rail
  • Patrick Ziegler, Senior Consultant, amd.sigma - Strategic Airport Development GmbH
  • Simon Harley, Head of Business Development, London Luton Airport
  • Gerhard Ersching, HR Manager, Vienna International Airport

Course details

In this section
Overview
Delivery
Modules
Teaching team

Ten compulsory taught modules, two of which elective, 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.

Air Transport Environmental Planning

Aim
    To ensure that upon completion of the module, you will have received the required level of knowledge and relevant skills to tackle contemporary air transport environmental planning challenges.
Syllabus
    • The environmental impacts of aviation 
    • The role of environmental policy
    • Finance and economics of decarbonisation 
    • Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF)
    • Zero Emissions Fuels (ZEF)
    • Sustainable airport Master Planning
    • Calculating and forecasting emissions
    • Operational efficiencies
    • Airport local air quality
    • Contrails and non-CO2 impacts
    • Airport noise mitigation strategies
    • Noise annoyance and community relations
    • Water, energy and waste management
    • Combatting of wildlife trafficking in aviation
Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module you 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. Apply different techniques for measuring and calculating the environmental impacts of air transport.
  5. Develop and communicate an environmental strategic plan for air transport.

Air Transport Financial Management

Aim
    To provide a sound comprehension of how financial concepts and theories relate and apply to the air transport industry, considering its unique nature.
Syllabus
    • Financial Statements
    • Financial Ratios
    • Investment Appraisal
    • Aircraft Leasing
    • Sources of Finance
    • Equity, IPO and airline/airport privatisation
    • Risk management and hedging
    • Business Planning & Financial Management
Intended learning outcomes
  1. Assess the financial performance of airlines and airports through analysis, interpretation and evaluation of financial statements and financial ratios.
  2. Critically evaluate the different sources of finance available in the air transport industry.
  3. Evaluate and apply different investment appraisal techniques used by airlines and airport.

Air Transport Market Analysis and Forecasting

Aim

    Obtain the theory, knowledge and skills of ‘demand forecasting’, and demonstrate their applicability in an air transport context.

     
Syllabus
    • Introduction to air traffic forecasting.
    • Air travel demand.
    • Market analysis.
    • Trend analysis.
    • Time series analysis.
    • Market share forecasts.
    • Long term forecasts.
    • Evaluating forecasting results.
Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module you 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 Business and Economics

Aim
    To ensure that when you complete the module you will have received the required level of knowledge and relevant sets of skills in order to apply these competently to help you solve airport business management problems.
Syllabus
    • Fundamental principles relevant to airport economics
    • Airport aeronautical charges & airport-airline relations
    • Air cargo for airport managers
    • The business of airport retail, F&B 
    • Concession agreements and joint ventures in managing commercial services 
    • Commercial management of ground transportation
    • Airport costs & business process out-sourcing
    • Airline network strategy for airport managers
    • Airport strategy
    • Airport economic regulation
    • Airport ownership and privatisation
    • The airport ground handling business
    • Measuring airport business performance
Intended learning outcomes
  1. 1. Review fundamental theories and principles of micro-economics and their application to the airport industry.
  2. 2. Appraise, evaluate and critically review airport management approaches to setting aeronautical charges including being able to assess pricing competitiveness using turnaround and aeronautical yield approaches.
  3. 3. Appraise, evaluate and critically review airport management strategies in the development of retail / F&B, property and car parking.
  4. 4. Appraise, evaluate relevant key performance indicators in order to review the performance of a given airport business process.
  5. 5. Appraise, evaluate and critically review different approaches used in setting airport business strategy and the choices for public authorities in determining the most appropriate form of airport ownership and framework of economic regulation.

Airport Design

Aim
    To provide you with the knowledge, understanding and skills in the design of airports and associated facilities in respect to contemporary commercial requirements.
Syllabus
    • • 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.
Intended learning outcomes

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

  1. 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. 2. Explore and explain the impact of aircraft performance and characteristics onto the design of the airport infrastructure, including traditional keroseine-, SAF-, electric- and hydrogen-powered fixed-wing aircraft and eVTOL.
  3. 3. Assess, measure and calculate the capacity of airport sub-systems, and model passenger flows using design simulation software.
  4. 4. Propose 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. 5. Examine and evaluate the ability of airport design to respond to changing requirements within the global economy and growing passenger expectations.

Airport Operations

Aim
    To provide you with knowledge, understanding and skills in airport operations.
Syllabus
    • 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
Intended learning outcomes

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

  1. 1. Appraise key airport operations and assess their contribution to service provision.
  2. 2. Evaluate the thought processes required in effective airport business recovery following an airport incident or process change.
  3. 3. Examine the requirement for (and the components of) a robust airport security plan and safety management system.

Airport Strategic Planning

Aim

    This module aims to develop your expertise in airport strategic planning by enhancing your ability to strategically analyse the complex airport operating environment, including airline dynamics, policy constraints and competitive forces, enabling you to successfully tackle real-world airport strategic planning problems.

     
Syllabus
    • • 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,
    • • The impact of sustainability on the definition of airport strategy,
    • • Case studies in airport strategic planning,
Intended learning outcomes

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

  1. 1. Clear understanding of the process of master planning within the context of changing airline industry structure, national airport policy goals, and planning constraints.
  2. 2. Critically understand the impact of airline market dynamics on long-term airport strategic planning.
  3. 3. Critically assess airport competition dynamics in the local and connecting markets.
  4. 4. Compare, analyse and assess different options and scenarios for new airports or existing airports and understand the interaction of key variables in the decision-making process.
  5. 5. Appraise and critique the work of other practitioners and specialists, communicate effectively, in written form and research work produced.

Geopolitics and International Aviation Law

Aim
    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.
Syllabus
    • 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
       
Intended learning outcomes

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

  1. 1. Evaluate the contemporary relevance and ongoing effectiveness of the 1944 Chicago Convention for global aviation.
  2. 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. 3. Identify and explore core aviation law theories, concepts and debates and assess how these intersect within a multidisciplinary context.
  4. 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. 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-world and scenario-based cases concerning legal liability.

Elective modules
Two of the modules from the following list need to be taken as part of this course.

Air Transport Marketing

Aim

    To provide a sound comprehension of how marketing concepts and theories can be applied to the airline industry, considering its unique nature. 
Syllabus
    • • Introduction to Marketing.
    • • Consumer Behaviour.
    • • Market Segmentation.
    • • Airline Customer Experience.
    • • Airline and airport products.
    • • Branding, Promotional communication and loyalty.
    • • Distribution.
    • • Airport marketing.
Intended learning outcomes

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

  1. 1. Describe the characteristics of the main segments of airline and airport markets.
  2. 2. Identify and explain the key issues in planning airline products and the importance of product differentiation.
  3. 3. Assess the links between advertising, promotion, branding and customer loyalty.
  4. 4. Assess current issues in airline distribution.
  5. 5. Evaluate and apply the work of other practitioners and specialists.

Airline Strategic Management

Aim
    To give the tools needed to perform a detailed strategic overview of an sirline.
Syllabus
    • Introduction to strategic airline management
    • Core concepts of strategic management
    • Performing strategic level analysis
    • Strategies used to respond to competition and competitive advantage
    • Airline business diversification strategies
Intended learning outcomes

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

  1. Evaluate and apply strategic management concepts and analytical tools to the airline industry.
  2. Assess how different strategies impact the competitiveness of airlines.
  3. Synthesise information from a variety of sources to support research on airline strategies.
  4. Appraise and critique strategies applied by airlines.

Aviation Safety Management

Aim
Syllabus
    • • 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.
Intended learning outcomes

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

  1. 1. Critically explain the principles, structure, and regulatory basis of Safety Management Systems (SMS) in the aviation industry, with reference to ICAO and national regulatory frameworks.
  2. 2. Apply appropriate methods to identify, assess, and manage operational safety hazards and risks, including quantitative and qualitative techniques.
  3. 3. Evaluate the effectiveness of safety culture enhancement strategies, including leadership, team structure, and reporting mechanisms. 
  4. 4. Select and justify appropriate indicators and techniques for monitoring and measuring safety performance within an aviation organisation.
  5. 5. Analyse the roles and interactions of key safety functions and teams within a safety management structure, including the integration of data sources such as FDM and investigation reports.

Digital Aviation Management

Aim
    To provide you with an understanding of the developments in technology and digitalisation in the airline and airport sectors and how this impacts their business and operations.
Syllabus
    • • Digital transformation processes.
    • • Data analytics in the context of aviation management.
    • • Digital distribution and marketing in air transport.
    • • Digital technologies in aviation operations.
Intended learning outcomes

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

  1. 1.Characterise digital technological developments in the aviation industry.
  2. 2. Critically assess the key elements of the digital transformation process in the aviation industry. 
  3. 3. Appraise the role of digitalisation in distribution and marketing of air transport services.
  4. 4. Judge the applications of data analytics in the context of aviation management.

Regional Aviation

Aim
    To ensure that when you complete the module you have received the required level of knowledge and relevant sets of skills in order to apply these competently to help you solve business and management problems in regional aviation.
Syllabus
    • • 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 .
Intended learning outcomes

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

  1. 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. 2. Critically analyse and appraise business problems relating to regional airline strategy and network planning.
  3. 3. Critically evaluate the performance characteristics of regional aircraft in the context of regional airline fleet planning and the implications on business performance.
  4. 4. Critically evaluate the common economic and business challenges faced by airports and providers of ATC in regional markets.
  5. 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.

Teaching team

You will be taught by ÌúÅ£ÊÓƵ'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, architects, historians, and civil, aeronautical and industrial engineers with strong publication records and vast industry experience. The course director for this programme is Dr Edgar Jimenez Perez.

Thomas Budd

Dr Thomas Budd

Associate Professor of Airport Decarbonisation
Gary Doy

Mr Gary Doy

Senior Lecturer in Air Transport Management
Darren Ellis

Dr Darren Ellis

Senior Lecturer in Air Transport Management
Andy Foster

Mr Andy Foster

Senior Lecturer
Robert Mayer

Dr Robert Mayer

Director of Education for SATM and Associate Professor in Air Transport Management
Rich Moxon

Mr Rich Moxon

Associate Professor of Airport Management
Romano Pagliari

Dr Romano Pagliari

Senior Lecturer in Air Transport Management
Edgar Jimenez Perez

Dr Edgar Jimenez Perez

Senior Lecturer in Air Transport Management
Henrik Rothe

Mr Henrik Rothe

Senior Lecturer in Airport Planning / Management
Pere Suau-Sanchez

Dr Pere Suau-Sanchez

Senior Lecturer in Air Transport Management
Berkcan Uyan

Dr Berkcan Uyan

Research/Teaching Fellow

Your career

After completing the Airport Planning and Management MSc, you will be in a unique position to respond to the need for talented individuals to drive the transition towards a sustainable air transport system. The course offers varied and exciting career possibilities from planning and management consultancies that advise airports and authorities across the world, airport designers, developers and operators, to air transport infrastructure, service and travel providers, including for new forms of air transport such as advanced air mobility.

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 within a range of roles:

Airport Planner
Aviation Consultant
Operations Controller
Senior Airport Planner
Project Manager
Strategic Planning and Sustainability Specialist
Senior Design Manager
ORAT Coordinator
 


Organisations that employ our graduates have included:

Arup Jacobs Consultancy
Mott MacDonald ´¡³Ù°ì¾±²Ô²õ¸éé²¹±ô¾±²õ
Airbus Manchester Airport Group
Korean Airports Corporation Malaysian Airports
ICF International Aviation Economics
Heathrow Airport Group ADP – Aeroports de Paris
 


We also provide access to our exclusive LinkedIn ÌúÅ£ÊÓƵ University - Air Transport Group, which offers unrivalled networking and job opportunities.

ÌúÅ£ÊÓƵ’s Career Service is dedicated to helping you meet your career aspirations. You will have access to career coaching and advice, CV development, interview practice, access to hundreds of available jobs via our Symplicity platform and opportunities to meet recruiting employers at our careers fairs. Our strong reputation and links with potential employers provide you with outstanding opportunities to secure interesting jobs and develop successful careers. Support continues after graduation and as a ÌúÅ£ÊÓƵ alumnus, you have free life-long access to a range of career resources to help you continue your education and enhance your career.

How to apply

Click on the ‘Apply now’ button below to start your online application.

See our Application guide for information on our application process and entry requirements.