What Is Airline Management?

Airline Management is the field responsible for running the business, operational, financial, and strategic sides of an airline. While pilots and controllers operate the aircraft and airspace, airline managers operate the airline itself—ensuring flights run on time, crews are scheduled, aircraft are maintained, passengers are supported, and long-term business goals are met.

Airline Management professionals work in areas such as:

• Operations Control (OCC / SOC)

• Crew Scheduling & Planning

• Network Planning & Scheduling

• Revenue Management

• Customer Experience

• Maintenance & Engineering Management

• Safety & Compliance

• Corporate strategy and finance

Their job requires leadership, analytical thinking, communication skill, understanding of regulations, and the ability to manage large systems under pressure.

How to Start Your Journey in Airline Management

There are multiple pathways into airline management, ranging from aviation degrees to business and analytics backgrounds.

1. Meet basic eligibility requirements

• Strong communication and organizational skills

• Ability to obtain airport/airline security access credentials

• Willingness to work irregular schedules, especially for operations roles

• Interest in aviation systems, business strategy, and problem-solving

2. Education or training background

While not always required, most airline management roles prefer degrees in:

• Aviation Business Administration

• Aviation Management

• Aeronautical Science

• Business Administration / Management

• Economics / Finance

• Supply Chain / Logistics

• Data Science / Analytics

Many airline leaders come from a mix of aviation and business backgrounds.

3. Internships, co-ops, and entry-level roles

Airlines highly value real-world experience. Popular entry routes include:

• Airline internship programs (major airlines recruit heavily from universities)

• Customer service or airport operations roles

• Crew scheduling assistant

• SOC/OCC internship

• Revenue management or data analytics intern

• Management trainee programs

4. Obtain specialized knowledge or certifications

Helpful (but not required) certifications include:

• Safety Management Systems (SMS) courses

• IATA Airline Management certificates

• CRM / Human Factors training

• FAA Part 121 operations familiarity

• Dispatch or Ops training (even non-licensed)

5. Move into leadership or specialist roles

With experience, managers progress into:

• Operations supervisors

• Duty managers

• Network planners

• Fleet and schedule analysts

• Senior revenue managers

• Finance/strategy roles

• Director-level leadership positions

Career Pathways Within Airline Management

Airline Management is broad. Below are the major tracks, each with its own responsibilities and progression.

Operations Control Center (OCC / SOC)

The Operations Control Center is the “mission control” of an airline. Managers here make real-time decisions affecting the entire network.

Responsibilities include:

• Monitoring flights across the airline’s system

• Coordinating with dispatch, maintenance, crew scheduling, and stations

• Handling diversions, reroutes, delays, and irregular operations

• Making decisions about cancellations or aircraft swaps

• Tracking weather, equipment outages, and FAA programs (GDPs, ground stops)

OCC/SOC management requires calm decision-making and strong communication.

Crew Scheduling & Crew Management

Crew scheduling ensures pilots and flight attendants are properly staffed and legal to fly under FAA rules.

Responsibilities include:

• Building monthly crew schedules

• Managing sick calls, reassignments, delays, and crew swaps

• Monitoring FAA duty limits and rest requirements

• Coordinating crew hotels, transportation, and logistics

• Supporting crews during irregular operations

This role is both operational and regulatory, with a heavy focus on compliance.

Network Planning & Schedule Development

Network planners decide where the airline flies, how often, and with which aircraft.

Responsibilities include:

• Analyzing markets and passenger demand

• Launching new routes or adjusting seasonal service

• Matching aircraft type to market needs

• Coordinating gate and slot availability at airports

• Evaluating competitor networks

This area shapes the airline’s strategy years in advance.

Revenue Management & Pricing

Revenue managers determine ticket prices, fare classes, and revenue strategies to maximize profit on each route.

Responsibilities include:

• Monitoring booking trends and demand curves

• Adjusting prices based on competition and seasonality

• Managing fare rules, upsells, and cabin segmentation

• Working with data analytics teams

• Optimizing revenue per flight and per seat

Highly analytical and math-heavy—perfect for data-focused students.

Maintenance & Engineering Management

These managers coordinate aircraft maintenance schedules to keep the fleet airworthy and efficient.

Responsibilities include:

• Overseeing maintenance planning and heavy checks

• Tracking aircraft health and reliability trends

• Coordinating with MROs (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul facilities)

• Ensuring Part 121 maintenance compliance

• Managing AOG (Aircraft on Ground) events

Aviation engineering knowledge is useful here.

Customer Experience & Station Management

These managers oversee airport stations and passenger-facing operations.

Responsibilities include:

• Managing gate agents, ticket counters, and ramp operations

• Ensuring on-time performance

• Implementing customer service initiatives

• Coordinating with TSA, airport ops, and internal departments

Great for students who enjoy leadership and people-focused responsibilities.

Top Schools for Airline Management and How to Get Involved

Several universities offer strong aviation business or airline management programs:

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach & Prescott)

Aviation Business Administration, Airline Management, Operations, and Network Planning coursework. ERAU offers direct pipelines to airline internships and leadership programs.

• Purdue University

Aviation management degrees paired with strong business and engineering connections.

• University of North Dakota (UND)

Excellent aviation management program with exposure to real airline operations through UND Aerospace.

• Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)

Offers Aviation Management and Airport Operations degrees with real-world industry links.

• Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver)

Located near Denver International Airport, providing practical experience and industry partnerships.

Tip: Apply early for airline internships—these often lead to full-time positions and fast-track leadership pathways.

Trends & Opportunities in Airline Management

• Airlines are expanding global route networks post-pandemic

• Increased demand for specialists in data analytics, SMS, and network optimization

• Growth in low-cost carriers and ultra-long-haul flying

• Multi-billion-dollar investments in new fleet types (A321XLR, 787-10, 777X)

• Emphasis on sustainability, SAF (sustainable aviation fuel), and emissions reduction

• Airlines building next-generation operations centers with AI-assisted tools

Final Thoughts

Airline Management is the backbone of the aviation industry. For students interested in leadership, operations, strategy, and systems-level problem-solving, this path offers a dynamic and high-impact career. Every decision made by airline managers affects aircraft, crews, passengers, and the entire global network.

If you want to shape the future of air travel—from routing strategies to large-scale operations—airline management is your runway.