module specification

The module introduces the fundamentals of Airline Operations, current issues, and their applications in the industry. Airline operations present a striking dichotomy: each day, airlines safely transport millions of passengers around the world, yet they often fail to deliver on more routine aspects—such as ground crews arriving late to open aircraft doors, lost baggage, or millions of pounds lost due to chronically underutilised aircraft.

Airlines have not traditionally applied factory-like, industrial-engineering scrutiny to their operations. A high percentage of an airline’s cost structure involves maintenance, ground handling, in-flight services, call centres, and aircraft acquisition. There is a significant opportunity to reduce overall costs by using labour, materials, and assets more efficiently, thereby enhancing service reliability.

This module explores the extent of these operational problems and how airlines work to solve them within the regulatory and economic constraints of the industry. Its aim is to provide students with a solid grounding in certification, rules of the air, cost structures, profitability issues, and the complex activities required for an aircraft to fly from point A to point B. The module also examines the interrelationships between various stakeholders in the industry.

The module aims to provide students with the ability to:
1. examine the key operational challenges faced by airlines and explore how these can be addressed within regulatory and economic constraints.
2. understand aviation certification, rules of the air, and regulatory compliance.
3. analyse airline cost structures and profitability issues, highlighting the complex processes involved in day-to-day operations.
4. explore the roles and interrelationships of various industry stakeholders in ensuring efficient and reliable airline operations.

NONE

Regulatory requirements

Government and Economic restrictions in Airline Operations: LO1/3
Requirements for an airline to be granted and AOC (Air Operator Certificate): LO3
Organisational structures of airlines and EASA requirements: LO3

Training and scheduling requirements
How Network operating centres operations including the role of dispatcher, maintenance personnel and other operational personnel: LO2

Airline operations including:

Stakeholders and their relationship in the Airline Operation process: LO2
Carriage of dangerous goods: LO1/3
Airline ticketing, passenger handling, cargo/baggage handling/dispatching/fuelling/catering: LO2
Aircraft fleet/acquisition: LO1
Aircraft maintenance: LO1
In-flight services: LO1
KPA Punctuality -turnaround time/baggage e.t.c : LO1/2
The interconnection of technology, culture, and people, and how these factors interact with the functional elements of airline management: LO2

The formal delivery of teaching and learning for this module will comprise an average of three contact hours per week across 12 teaching weeks, supplemented by additional enrichment weeks throughout the semester. Each week will typically include a two-hour interactive session employing a range of teaching and learning strategies. These include workshops, lectures, guest speakers, case study discussions, panel debates, video analysis, as well as scenario-based activities and real-time simulations. Peer-to-peer learning is embedded within the module, as students collaborate to develop practical solutions and critically assess their impact.
Group work is a core component of the learning experience, encouraging active engagement as students share their knowledge and experience through discussion and collaboration. In addition, a one-hour seminar each week will adopt a more focused, discussion-led approach to explore current themes and emerging trends within the aviation industry. This will be further enriched through input from alumni, who will offer career insights, and guest lecturers who provide industry-specific context.
The module also makes extensive use of interactive learning spaces, supporting dialogue between students and staff, and facilitating access to a range of academic resources, including journal articles, professional websites, and external materials. Active participation in class discussions and debates is encouraged, recognising the diverse professional backgrounds and experiences that students bring to the programme.
Students are expected to prepare in advance for each session by reviewing the module schedule, which will be shared online and summarised by tutors at the end of each lecture. This preparation involves independent research and reading around the weekly themes to enable meaningful contributions to class discussions and Q&A activities.
Opportunities for reflective learning are embedded throughout the module. Students are encouraged to consider their approaches to tasks and discussions, and to reflect on informal feedback received during lectures and in relation to their submitted assessments.

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

LO1: Discuss the government and economic restrictions within which airlines operate and them structures and activities which are mandated by competent authorities.
LO2: Describe the relationships between the different airline stakeholders including airports, ground handlers, maintenance organisations among others.
            LO3: Explain the regulatory requirements governing airline operations in the industry.

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/A7BCD18F-3BCE-C3C6-DCA9-19E842FF54A5.html

Core reading list
Gerald N. Cook, Bruce Billig 2023, 2nd edition). Airline Operations and Management. Routledge

Alternative reading
Cheng-Lung Wu (2010). Airline operations and delay management: insights from airline economics, networks, and strategic schedule planning. Ashgate. Farnham. ISBN 9780754691907

Online Sources
IATA (International Air Transport Association): https://www.iata.org/
ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organistaion): https://en-gb.facebook.com/InternationalCivilAviationOrganization/