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
  • Â鶹´«Ã½AV 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.

Â鶹´«Ã½AV 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.

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.

Â鶹´«Ã½AV 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.

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 students 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 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 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
    • • 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. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the process of airport capacity planning and master planning within the context of changing airline industry structure, national airport policy goals, and planning constraints.
    2. 2. 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.
    3. 3. Understand the impact of airline market dynamics on long-term airport strategic planning.
    4. 4. Assess critically airport competition dynamics.
    5. 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.

    Airport Finance and Business Management

    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
      • Fundamental principles in airport economics
      • 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.

    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.

    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
      • • Environmental policy and politics.
      • • The economics of decarbonisation .
      • • Sustainable Aviation Fuels.
      • • Sustainable Propulsion Systems.
      • • Sustainable Airport Master Planning.
      • • Calculating aircraft and surface access emissions.
      • • Airport Local Air Quality.
      • • Contrails and non-CO2 impacts.
      • • Climate hazard mitigation and adaptation for air transport.
      • • Airport noise mitigation strategies.
      • • Sustainability Reporting.
      • • 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 you should be able to:

    1. 1. Demonstrate an appreciation of the key features and characteristics of the environmental externalities of air transport at varying spatial scales.
    2. 2. Critically analyse the various technical, commercial, economic and political dimensions of environmental impact mitigation.
    3. 3. Identify current and future environmental policy and regulatory controls on the air transport industry and assess trade-offs between competing priorities.
    4. 4. Apply different techniques for measuring and calculating the environmental impacts of air transport.
    5. 5. Develop and communicate an environmental strategic plan for air transport.

    Air Transport Market Analysis and Forecasting

    Aim
      Obtain the theory and knowledge, skills of ‘demand forecasting’, and apply to the practical work for the air transport industry.
    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. 1. Appraise key factors affecting demand for air travel.
    2. 2. Analyse data and select the most appropriate model to produce a traffic forecast.
    3. 3. Evaluate forecasting methods and interpret the results with confidence.
    4. 4. Appraise and critique the work of other practitioners and specialists.
    5. 5. Communicate effectively, in written form, the research work produced.

    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 the how marketing concepts and theories can be applied to the airline industry, considering it's 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 Airline.
    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. 1. Evaluate and apply strategic management concepts and analytical tools to the airline industry.
    2. 2. Assess how different strategies impact the competitiveness of airlines.
    3. 3. Synthesise information from a variety of sources to support research on airline strategies.
    4. 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. Describe the fundamental concepts behind Safety Management Systems (SMS), as defined by ICAO and other regulatory bodies.
    2. 2. Select and implement techniques for the identification, quantification and management of hazards and risks.
    3. 3. Critically assess strategies for developing and enhancing safety culture including the role of leadership, structure and reporting systems.
    4. 4. Identify techniques for measuring safety performance

    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
      • • Technological developments within the aviation industry.
      • • Digital transformation processes.
      • • Data sources in aviation management.
      • • Data analytics in the context of aviation management.
      • • The effects of e-commerce in air transport.
      • • Social media.
      • • Digital developments in aviation operations.
    Intended learning outcomes

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

    1. 1. Examine the characteristics and key drivers of technology in the aviation industry.
    2. 2. Assess the potential applications of technology and the digital transformation process in the aviation industry.
    3. 3. Appraise the role of e-commerce and social media in the aviation industry.
    4. 4. Identify and judge the sources of data and applications of data analytics in the context of aviation management.
    5. 5. Examine the digital developments in airline and airport 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 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, 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

    Senior Lecturer and DARTeC Fellow
    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 Â鶹´«Ã½AV - Air Transport Group, which offers unrivalled networking and job opportunities.

    Cranfield’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 Cranfield 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.