What Can You do with an Airport Management Degree?

If you love aviation, becoming a pilot isn't your only choice. Air traffic control and flight attendant are also options, but if you want a higher-level leadership position, consider getting a degree in airport management. This relatively new type of degree gives you the education needed to work in a variety of airport administration positions.

Airport Management Daily Tasks
We sometimes take it for granted, but an extreme amount of organization goes into ensuring that airports in the United States and around the world operate smoothly on a daily basis. Think of all the thousands of flights that take off and land successfully every day, the millions of passengers who make their way through airports, and the huge number of workers it takes to keep an airport operational! As an airport management student, you'll learn about everything that needs to be done to make travel in the sky as smooth and safe as possible. Running an airport is like running a small city, with the need for everything to be under close control at all times.

Airport Management Skills
As an airport management student, you'll learn about all aspects of aviation to be prepared for a wide variety of fields. Many programs require you to have a pilot's license before you enroll, and you may also have the option of completing an air traffic control course during your airport management degree program. Other classes you take will go over topics such as airfield safety, customer service, human resources, emergency planning, and even aviation engineering. The goal is to prepare you for any part of airport management you pursue when graduating.

Airport Manager Roles
At every airport, there is a single person in charge, much like a CEO runs a company, but there are dozens of support staff managers who work under this person to control specific departments. Managers control everything from airline relations to TSA compliance and safety to customer service and beyond, so work in the field that makes the most sense to you. Like with a business, it is a matter of working your way up the ladder to head a department. That climb begins with earning your airport management degree!

Aviation and Airport Management Degrees
The most common degrees in Airport Management and Aviation Management are: AAS in Airport Management, BS in Airport Management, BBA in Airport Management, BS in Aviation Management, and MBA in Aviation Management.