AIR TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT - 2025/6

Module Overview

This module delivers a very comprehensive overview of the Air Transport industry which is ever changing and evolving. It covers a large spectrum of different airline business models that include full service airlines, low cost carriers, long-haul low-cost carriers, hybrid carriers, charter airlines and regional carriers. Other entities that shape the global airline industry will also be covered such as air cargo, alliances, IT and ancillary revenues. The wider value chain of
airports is also encapsulated into the module exploring the Aeronautical and Non-aeronautical commercial aspects of the business. The module gives an exciting and illuminating insight into the global air transport industry.

Module provider

Surrey Hospitality & Tourism Management

Module Leader

SCOTT Neil (SII DUFE)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

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

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

There are no pre-requisites for this module, however a familiarity with air transport will be beneficial. It is expected that students will read some of the current air transport books in circulation, before the module is taken.

Module content

Indicative content includes:

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  The general trend and characteristics in the aviation industry
  


• 
  Aviation law and regulation
  


• 
  The business model of Airlines
  
  
  
  
  • 
    Full-Service Network Airlines
    
  
  
  • 
    Low-Cost Carriers
    
  
  
  • 
    Long-Haul Low-Cost carriers
    
  
  
  • 
    Charter Airlines
    
  
  
  • 
    Regional Airlines
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  Airline economics, markets, and demand.
  


• 
  Airline strategic decisions, alliances, and equity partnerships
  


• 
  Air Cargo and its role
  


• 
  Airport business and airport commercial strategies
  


• 
  ICT and air transportation
  


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  Aviation safety and security
  


• 
  Critical issues and prospects for air transportation
  

The Students will be expected to read academic Journal papers related to the Air Transport industry as well as the current books listed below. There are a large variety of commercial aviation websites that will bring value when doing assignments and preparing presentations, which include Flightglobal, CAPA, Air Transport World, Anker Report, anna.aero, Blueswan, etc. The Module will be primarily taught through lectures and through short videos and students are expected to attend all of the lectures over the life-span of the module. They will also be required to work in groups and contribute accordingly.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

A 1,500 word report on the same topic as the presentation will be required.   

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 a specific area of Air Transport. Secondly, each candidate will undertake an individual assignment and analyse its overall business model based on a set of commercial and academic metrics.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Group Presentation 

• Individual Assignment 

Formative assessment and feedback
Students are required to submit a work plan before the final submission of the assignment. A session will be organised to provide formative feedback on the students work plans.

Module aims

• The aim of this module is to give students a thorough and systematic coverage of critical aviation issues that underpin today’s global aviation industry. It’s a comprehensive overview of the various dynamics that frame the aviation industry and it provides students with a solid knowledge base on the industry pulse points. Airlines have diversified into a wide range of different business models and each has a different set of structural dimensions, operating characteristics and specifications, which are examined in detail. Similarly airports have also changed shape to incorporate aviations relentless transformation. Students will be able to analyse and conceptualise big picture issues both inside and outside the industry.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to: Deliver a comprehensive insight into the global air transport industry in mixed method approach of academic and commercial contexts that is interactive, engaging and exciting. It is designed to extract innovative ideologies from students and work them into real world scenarios to expand the mindset and explore uncharted entities.

The learning and teaching methods include: The module is delivered through a mixture of lectures, workshops, case studies, Industry speakers, group discussions (lecturer-led inside class and independently by student groups outside class), a module book, additional online readings and activities, group-research and self-directed reflective development.

• Lectures cover the fundamentals of each topic and include contemporary perspectives on different aspects of aviation thought so that students can learn a critical and constructive approach to existing and new ideas.

• In-class team work, group, and whole-class activities and discussions reinforce key learning points.

• In-class and take-home activities, coupled with research, help students to ‘build’ the required skills for their professional life.

• Extra-class case study and paper readings, viewing of video clips and individual activities concentrate on applying the theoretical aspects of development with practical examples.

• Action-research practices enable students to learn and develop through reflection on professional and practical aspects of the module.

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: MAN2148

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), SurreyLearn, 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 impacts of air travel/ transport industry on society, environment and economy through a case study analysis and class discussion. Students will be guided in developing recommendations for minimizing negative impacts of air travel for the society, environment and/or economy based on their knowledge of sustainable air transport/ tourism management and sustainable development.   

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. 

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.