Aviation and Airport Management

The aviation management course focuses on the business, operational and strategic elements of the aviation industry. It involves understanding how airlines, airports and aviation-related organisations function. The course also covers how the aviation industry operates including how to ensure aircraft, airports, passengers, cargo and airspace run safely, efficiently and profitably.

Using a variety of teaching techniques, you build your knowledge and experience so you graduate ready to take off in an exciting career in this field. With our campus close to London Luton Airport, you’re also well positioned to enhance your studies and pursue work placements with airlines and related organisations.

Facilities and specialist equipment

• Access to simulation software Simulate, allowing you to practise controlling your own airline and gain key insights into airline revenue management.

• Excellent Learning Resources Centre with an extensive library, giving you access to a wide range of academic and industry knowledge including e-journals, e-books and information databases as well as traditional printed books.

• Access to SIMnet Microsoft Office training, with the opportunity to gain Excel certification.

Career-powered links

• Our aviation industry links include London Luton Airport; the Civil Aviation Authority; and Highlands and Islands Airports.

• Locally, there is a range of industry-relevant employment opportunities with London Luton Airport, TUI, EasyJet and other aviation-related companies.

Your student experience

• Our aviation teaching team includes experienced industry professionals in the fields of airlines, airport operators and other aviation roles worldwide.

• Recent aviation visitors and speakers include airline pilots; aviation safety experts; and representatives from London Luton Airport and Highlands and Islands Airports.

• Benefit from our Aviation Job Fair, attended by airlines and airports and opening up opportunities for employment or placements.

• Enrich your experience via student societies; placements and internships, and field trips to relevant destinations and events such as London Luton Airport, the World Travel Market, and the Imperial War Museum at Duxford.

Course Modules

Year 1
Applied numeracy for business – Develop key numeracy skills vital to ensure success in your future career. Beginning your professional business journey – Take on business challenges and collaborate with peers in a professional environment. Structure and development of the air transport industry – Build a historical perspective of the complex regulations and business of the commercial air-transport industry. Managing people in tourism and aviation – Learn people-managing skills in the commercial tourism and aviation industry.

Year 2
Data and research methods for business – Learn research methods to support you in sourcing and evaluating research and data in business issues. Strategic airport planning and development – Explore the planning and design of airports globally. Airline revenue management – Be able to present, evaluate and interpret airline finance and economics. Global airline, airport and cargo operations management – Study commercial airline and airport markets; fleet and network planning; and cargo air transport. Marketing and digital transformation in travel and tourism – Apply the key principles of marketing in an industry setting and explore digital campaigns using real-life examples.

You can also choose from four optional modules:

• Strategic business planning

• Employment law

• Contingency planning and crisis management

• Managing the experience economy

Year 3
Aviation law – Study national and international law for commercial and civil aviation-related operations. Critical issues for airlines and airports – Explore the relationship between aviation and the environment including the industry's impact on the environment and how aviation sustainability can be improved. Managing safety and security for air transport – Examine the regulations and systems that increase safety and security while investigating the factors that contribute to aircraft accidents and incidents. Business project – In teams, apply your learning to a real-world aviation issue, finding a convincing solution and reporting on your findings.

You can also choose from three optional modules:

• Ethics and corporate social responsibility for business

• Management and leadership

• Entrepreneurship and business excellence.

For an at-a-glance list of modules for this course, download the course specification.

Every effort is made to ensure this information is accurate at the point of publication on the UCAS website. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to our website.

Assessment incorporates the testing of presentation skills and communication analysis and problem solving effectively managing different viewpoints in addition to subject knowledge breadth and depth. Assessment types include: presentations report writing exams portfolios and research projects. These skills aforementioned are embedded in all their assessments to allow students to develop their employability skills from Level 4 to Level 6.

The assessments include written papers that test analysis of cases, problem solving, and balancing different viewpoints. Portfolios allow you to demonstrate your breadth of knowledge, whilst presentations and live case study testing (such as desktop exercises) require you to think on your feet, internalise knowledge, and to communicate professionally under pressure. Finally, research projects allow you demonstrate your research skills, and to be able to present effective reports that are the bedrock of professional work.

The skills are developed from the first semester into the second, and year by year as you progress by the course – your skills are often developed tacitly, through a process where our carefully developed units build upon one another, linking right to the very last class.