Planes on the runway and in the sky

Aviation, airline and airport management

Aviation, airline and airport management

Whether you’re looking to launch your career in airline and airport management or to see it soar to even greater heights, we offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in aviation, airline and airport management to equip you with the skills and knowledge you need.

Discover our aviation courses for commercial pilots and aviation managers. Located just 7.5 miles from Heathrow Airport, the University is home to the Heathrow Exhibition and Archive, a recently installed flight simulator, and a teaching team with wide-ranging professional and academic expertise in the field.

The course content is developed with support from a wide network of sector professionals to include changes in the industry and we are proud to involve experts from Heathrow in our guest lectures and workshops to directly connect you to the industry. 

Our courses will prepare you to lead effectively in an ever-evolving sector, with the skills and confidence needed to tackle the issues the sector is facing today and into the future.

UWL pilot and instructor featured on TV

LGCHT's Umar Khan was interviewed by Sky News about the challenges for pilots trying to land in bad conditions while demonstrating UWL’s flight simulator.

Interior of the Flight Pad simulator at UWL

Aviation, airline and airport management undergraduate courses

Aviation, airline and airport management postgraduate courses

Course videos

Studying for a university degree alongside your flight training will provide you with a distinct advantage over your peers; enabling you to graduate better prepared for airline operations as well as being equipped with the necessary management and business skills to support your future.

The BSc (Hons) Airline and Airport Management course provides you with the knowledge and skills required to pursue a leadership management role within the aviation industry.

Aviation, airline and airport management FAQs

  • Why study aviation in London?

    A busy terminal building at Heathrow Airport

    Home to one of the world’s busiest airports in Heathrow, London also boasts Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City airports within a few hours radius.

    But our connections with the aviation industry are more than geography. The London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism boasts strong links with British Airways and Heathrow Airport, plus over 400 industry partners in hospitality, travel and tourism.

    As a student, you will benefit from these links through visiting speakers, placement opportunities (where applicable) and more.

  • Can I study aviation management part-time?

    Two professionals carrying laptops

    We realise that many of our students need to study around existing work or family commitments, which is why many of our courses are offered on a part-time basis.

    These include our BSc Airline and Airport Management and our Post Graduate provision. Browse to the course page that interests you for more information about study options.

  • Can I undertake an internship in the aviation industry?

    Workers on an airfield at a commercial airport

    Our strong industry connections enable us to offer some of our courses with integrated placements or internships.

    The BSc Airline and Airport Management is offered with this option, to enable you to leapfrog the competition by gaining real-world industrial experience in your chosen field.

  • What can I do after my Air Transport Management course?

    Smartly dressed aviation employees

    Our graduates go on to work for a wide range of international airlines, airports, aviation agencies, in-flight catering companies and international cargo organisations. These have included:

    • British Airways
    • Virgin Atlantic Airways
    • Lufthansa
    • London City Airport
    • London Heathrow
    • Boeing.

    As a student at the University of West London you will be entitled to lifelong support from our careers service.

Facilities

FlightPad

The University of West London has recently opened a Boeing 737-800 flight simulator at our West London campus. Check out this video to see it in action!

The Heathrow Exhibition

Get up close to historic Heathrow artefacts and discover how this iconic airport became the UK’s hub for aviation.

This new exhibition was made possible thanks to money raised by National Lottery players via the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and generous donations from Heathrow Airport and the University of West London.

Explore the Heathrow Exhibition
Model planes at the UWL Archives

The Heathrow Archive

With over 800 items in the collection, The unique Heathrow Archive was deposited by Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited (HAHL) in 2015. The collection tells the story of Heathrow’s history from 1946 to 2016.

Learn more about the UWL Archive

Events and opportunities

A group of UWL students attend Pilot Careers Live

UWL students attended Pilot Careers Live in April 2023 to promote our Pilot Programmes and to speak to aspiring pilots about their journey into the industry.

The UWL aviation team at Future Pilot Skills Day

The UWL Aviation team organised The Future Pilot Skills Day with the dedicated team at FlightPad. This is an informative day for aspiring pilots to hear from ATOs and industry leads about flight training, access to opportunities and aiming high for those airline careers.

UWL course leaders make a presentation at the Future Pilot Skills Day

The UWL Aviation team organised The Future Pilot Skills Day with the dedicated team at FlightPad. This is an informative day for aspiring pilots to hear from ATOs and industry leads about flight training, access to opportunities and aiming high for those airline careers.

UWL students mingle at the Future Pilot Skills Day

The UWL Aviation team organised The Future Pilot Skills Day with the dedicated team at FlightPad. This is an informative day for aspiring pilots to hear from ATOs and industry leads about flight training, access to opportunities and aiming high for those airline careers.

A woman raises her hand at a conference

Each year the UWL Aviation Team organise an Aviation Symposium where industry leaders deliver keynote talks on areas such as sustainability, employability and technology.  

As well as featuring speakers from British Airways, Heathrow Airport, EasyJet, and Boeing to name but a few, the Symposium is an opportunity for alumni and former students who now work in the aviation industry to share their experiences.

An aeroplane flying above an unidentified airport

The course has opportunities for module-related trips. Recently, students have visited the Civil Aviation Authority as well as participated in an Air Accident-type investigation at Farnborough.

Jobs for aviation, airline and airport management graduates

Job roles

Our aviation courses will prepare you for roles such as:

  • Pilot: flight instructor, first officer, senior first officer, captain
  • Operational Management and Logistics: air cargo operator, aircraft turnaround and dispatch, planning and scheduling, airport manager
  • Commercial Management: revenue and inventory management, sales and marketing, route analysis and evaluation
  • General Business and Management Functions: HR and talent management, finance and accounts, IT and communications.

You could start your career with a range of related organisations such as:

  • airlines and airports
  • cargo operations and handlers
  • air traffic management
  • consultancies
  • government agencies, regulators and aviation authorities
  • industry bodies and organisations.
A student oversees a cargo delivery

Graduate employers

Recent graduates have found employment at organisations including:

  • British Airways
  • Virgin Atlantic
  • Heathrow Airport
  • Boeing
  • Qatar Airways
  • Korean Air
  • Lufthansa
  • American Airlines
  • Ryanair
  • Vistajet
  • Emirates
  • London City Airport
  • Wizz Air