Run the airports, airlines and operations that keep flights moving
Every flight depends on people who never leave the ground: airport operations, airline control rooms, ground handling, cargo, safety and customer service. This is where you run the system rather than fly in it.
You can come in through a degree, an apprenticeship or a graduate scheme, and many roles don't need an aviation qualification. Pay varies a lot by role and employer, and airports run around the clock, so expect shifts.
Airport Operations Officer
Airline Operations Controller
Ground Handling Supervisor
Safety and Security Officer
Cargo and Logistics Planner
Commercial or Route Analyst
Customer Service Manager
Keeps the terminal and airfield running, from stands and queues to incidents.
Monitors the day's flights and re-plans crews and aircraft when things go wrong.
Leads the teams that load, fuel, board and turn aircraft round.
Checks procedures, investigates incidents and keeps the operation compliant.
Plans how freight moves by air and connects with road and rail.
Uses data to decide which routes and schedules make money.
Runs the teams passengers deal with, and handles disruption and complaints.
UK airports
Airline operations control centres
Ground handlers and airports
Airports and airlines
Cargo carriers and freight forwarders
Airlines and airports
Airlines and airports
Take handover from the night shift and check the day's flights and weather.
Morning peak: sort stand clashes, late crew and queue problems.
Meet ground handling, security and the airline on a recurring delay.
Handle a disruption: re-plan, brief teams and update passengers.
Write the shift report and hand over to the afternoon team.
Aviation, airline or airport management, logistics, transport or business. Some schemes accept any subject.
Level 3 Aviation Flight Operations Co-ordinator or Level 4 Aviation Operations Manager. You earn while you train.
Roughly two years of rotations across operations, commercial and customer teams. Competitive, so apply early.
Pay varies a lot by role and employer. Compare the actual advert, not a headline figure.
Operational roles mean shifts, nights and weekends, because airports never close.
Airport or airline work experience counts for a lot, even a summer job on the ground.
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