Overview
- Start dateMarch or June or November
- DurationMSc: up to three years part-time. PgDip: two years part-time. PgCert: two years part-time.
- DeliveryTaught Module 50%, Individual case study 10%, Individual research project 40%
- QualificationMSc, PgDip, PgCert
- SWAGºÏ¼¯ 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 broader 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 provide you with an internationally recognised qualification which benefits from SWAGºÏ¼¯'s reputation and can take you onto new levels of your career anywhere in the world. All course delegates are granted access to our exclusive LinkedIn , which offers unrivalled networking and job opportunities.
Why this course?
The MSc Air Transport Management has been established since 1964 and has an outstanding global reputation with over 1,500 graduates to date. We recognise the challenges faced by our executive students and therefore 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 offer a range of library and support facilities to support your studies. This MSc programme benefits from bringing together students from a wide range of backgrounds which significantly enhances the experience for both staff and students.
Discover the available to you as a student on this course.
Informed by Industry
The course is informed by industrial advisors from leading companies in the air transport industry. The group meets annually and ensures that the course content remains up-to-date and equips students with the skills and knowledge required by leading employers.
We regularly invite senior industry experts to present to our delegates. 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 SWAGºÏ¼¯. 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.
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. |
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Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
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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 |
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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:
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Individual Case SWAGºÏ¼¯ 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. |
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Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
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The Air Transport Industry Challenges and Issues
Aim |
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Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
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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. |
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Syllabus |
• 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. |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
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Elective modules
Two of the modules from the following list need to be taken as part of this course.
Air Transport Market Analysis and Forecasting
Aim |
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Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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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 module is to provide you 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. |
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Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
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Airline Fleet Planning
Aim |
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Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
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Geopolitics and International Aviation Law
Aim |
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Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
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Air Transport Engineering - Maintenance Operations
Aim |
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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:
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Airport Operations
Aim |
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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 |
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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. |
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Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Aviation Safety Management
Aim |
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Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
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Airport Design
Aim |
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Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
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Regional Aviation
Aim |
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Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
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Digital Aviation Management
Aim |
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Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
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Leadership and Change in the Aviation Industry
Aim |
​​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. |
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Syllabus |
Generally the curriculum will develop from a critical view of the individual through an understanding of your 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. |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should 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. ​Examine 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 peer. |
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 below to start your online application.
See our Application guide for information on our application process and entry requirements.