AIRPORT OPERATIONS - 2025/6

Module Overview

The module provides a comprehensive overview of different airport functionalities, covering airside, terminal, and landside operations. Students will engage with various areas of airport operations including winter and technical services, emergency response, security regulations, and aircraft allocation. The module also addresses safety management, emergency planning, cargo operations, customer service, and the complexities of airport management and baggage systems. Through theoretical knowledge and practical skills, this module prepares students for careers in airport operations management, focusing on efficiency, safety, and enhanced passenger experience.

Module provider

Hospitality & Tourism Management

Module Leader

ITANI Nadine (Hosp & Tour)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

n/a

Module content

The module provides a comprehensive overview of different airport functionalities, covering airside, terminal, and landside operations. Students will engage with various areas of airport operations including winter and technical services, emergency response, security regulations, and aircraft allocation. The module also addresses safety management, emergency planning, cargo operations, customer service, and the complexities of airport management and baggage systems. Through theoretical knowledge and practical skills, this module prepares students for careers in airport operations management, focusing on efficiency, safety, and enhanced passenger experience.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

In cases where the original group project is not suitable for re-assessment (e.g., only one student needs to retake the failed group project), an individual essay of 1000 words will be assigned.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to deliver a twin outcome. Firstly, it will provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to work effectively in groups and deliver a comprehensive insight into airport operations topics. Secondly, each candidate will undertake an individual assignment and apply critical thinking and analysis of emerging trends in airport operations and management. Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of: Group presentation addresses learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3 and 5. Individual assignment addresses learning outcomes: 2, 3, 4 and 6.

Formative assessment and feedback

Students will create a draft version of one of the assessments. Students receive written feedback together with their returned reports. Apart from comments on the group presentation and assignment, a formal sheet outlines students' strengths, areas for improvements and suggestions on how to improve students' performance for other assignments.

Module aims

• Provide a comprehensive understanding of the operational dynamics of airside, terminal, and landside operations at airports, focusing on the interconnectedness of different airport zones and their unique management challenges.
• 
  
  Equip students with knowledge and skills in managing airport operations during diverse conditions, including winter operations and emergency situations, emphasising the importance of preparedness and adaptability in ensuring continuous airport functionality.
• 
  
  Evaluate technical and security aspects of airport management, covering airport technical services, security regulations and operations, and the implementation of safety management systems, to prepare students for maintaining high standards of safety and security.
• Explore the strategic elements of airport operations, such as aircraft stand and slot allocation, emergency, and contingency planning, highlighting the significance of strategic planning in optimising airport efficiency and responsiveness.
• Understand the specialised operations within airports, including cargo operations, and the management of airport baggage systems, to provide students with a broad perspective on the variety of services and operations that comprise airport functionality.
• Enhance customer service and management skills within the airport context, focusing on airport customer service and management systems, to prepare students for roles that require direct interaction with passengers and emphasise the importance of customer satisfaction.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

Indicative content includes:



Airside, terminal, and landside operations.

Aircraft stand and slot allocation.

Airport technical operations.

Airport emergency services.

Security regulations and operations.

Safety management systems.

Emergency and contingency planning.

Cargo operations.

Airport customer service.

Airport management systems.

Airport baggage handling systems.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MAN1159

Other information

This module adopts the university curriculum framework which aims to develop learners with strong capabilities in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module contributes to the development of the following capabilities: Global and Cultural Capabilities: The module revolves around the development and management of air transport organisations (Airports/ Airlines) from a global perspective. Students develop an understanding of the influence of environment on the industry¿s development, including international, national and cultural environments. Since students are from different countries with diverse cultural backgrounds, class discussions and seminar exercises will be used to reinforce students¿ global and cultural capabilities. Digital Capabilities: Teaching and learning materials are provided in several formats, and students are encouraged to use discussion boards for communication. Students will be provided instruction on digital literature review searches that support their development of independent learning and successful assessment preparation. Students will use the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Surrey Learn, video conferencing platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, and data analytics software to facilitate learning. These include accessing teaching and learning materials and engaging with their instructors and peers. Employability: Guest lecturers will be present up-to-date insight from the air transport industry on relevant topics and provide an opportunity for students to directly learn from industry experts and stakeholders. Students will gain knowledge on current developments in air travel and be taught to critically evaluate these developments. They will also learn how to develop strategies to manage these developments. All these skills can be transferred to various situations at the workplace, including problem-solving tasks. Sustainability: This module motivates students to critically evaluate the economic, social and environmental impacts of air travel/ transport industry through evidence-based learning, case study analysis and class discussions. Students will also learn the invaluable relationship between air connectivity, the business cycle, economic and social prosperity. Students will be guided in developing recommendations for striking a balance between the socio-economic benefits of aviation and mitigating the industry¿s environmental impacts. Resourcefulness and Resilience: The assessment strategy which comprises two stages; formative assessment and summative assessment. Through this strategy, this module empowers students to build self-evaluation into assessment processes and create spaces for students to reflect on their own performance whilst reviewing feedback. The structured schedule of the two-stage assessment will also support students in developing time management skills. Also, students are motivated to make informed decisions from a range of options as to which aspect of their work they would like to request feedback. The critical nature of the in-class discussion will help foster openness by encouraging students to understand and discuss contrasting perspectives.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.