AIRPORT MANAGEMENT - 2025/6

Module Overview

This module provides an overview of the important functions of airport management for the seamless operation. Airports have a vital role in processing both passengers and cargo, however they are complex businesses and have a range of qualities. From being landlords, to providing infrastructure for airlines, retailers and other airport users, airports differ in size, type (local, regional, international, global hubs), ownership and governance structure.

Module provider

Surrey Hospitality & Tourism Management

Module Leader

O'CONNELL Frankie (Hosp & Tour)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

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

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

NA

Module content

Indicative module content includes:

• The features of airports for operational design, sustainability and efficiency for aircraft operations and public access


• How airports work in the context of partnerships with airlines and other stakeholders


• Airport operational efficiency and key attributes of operational efficiency


• The management structures of airports paving to success in a competitive de-regulated environment


• The airline and airport relationships and the development of bespoke airports operations that facilitate special airline operations


• Airport service quality benchmarks and the evaluation process of service


• The airport passenger experience and how airports develop products for enhancing the passenger experience


• The role of airports in the provision of commercial facilities


• Airport competition and the role of marketing in developing airport catchment area


• The importance of airport master planning to ensure sustained operations

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

If a student is unable to do the group presentation, an individual assignment of 2000 words will instead be required.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is aimed at giving students the opportunity to gradually build up their knowledge and understanding of fundamental issues in airport management and is designed to allow students to evidence their achievement of the learning outcomes. The assessment comprises an individual assignment and a group presentation.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• For the group presentation students will be working as a group to solve a practical issue faced by an airport operator


• As part of the individual assignment students are examined based on critically reviewing the literature, theories and techniques related to fundamental issues in airport management. This report has a target length of 3000 words

Formative assessment and feedback:

During the first seminar, the assignments and the feedback process is explained. Feedback is also provided during and after in-class discussions. As the seminars are built around topic-specific group exercises, students do not only benefit from lecture's feedback but also receive peer evaluations A pre-assignment feedback session is an integral part of this module. During this session, students work in groups on a task which reflects the assignment requirements and receive feedback on their work. Once marking is completed, students can access a report online which contains detailed generic feedback as well as a breakdown of marks. This enables students to assess their own performance compared to their peer students.

Summative feedback:

For the first assessment, students receive written feedback together with their returned reports. Apart from comments on the scripts, a formal sheet outlines students' strengths, areas for improvements and suggestions on how to improve students' performance for other assignments.

Module aims

• Understanding the importance of airports to the economic well-being of regions and countries as vital socio-economic growth.
  
• Examining key models for airport management.
  
• Evaluating key performance benchmarks for airports.
  
• Analysing key issues of service quality and the airport passenger experience.
  
• Evaluating the need for airports to provide commercial facilities such as retailing environments.
  
• Airport competition and the role of airport marketing and master planning for development.
  

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The teaching and learning strategy is designed to provide a framework of contemporary knowledge and theories supported by examples from industry. The current issues and debates will be highlighted so that the students are able to apply critical thinking to the literature. The teaching and learning methods are based on a series of lectures and, where appropriate case studies and guest lectures.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Lectures


• Seminars and/or class discussion

 

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: MANM563

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 (Airport/ 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. 

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.