Aviation Management and Operations

Aviation Management and Operations gives you a thorough grounding in how the aviation industry functions from a commercial, operational and regulatory perspective. You study airport and airline management, aviation safety systems, air transport economics, aviation law, and cargo and ground operations. Practical modules are supported by industry visits, simulations and guest lecturers from airlines, airports and leasing firms. Many programmes include a paid work placement in your penultimate year, giving you real experience with handling agents, airport authorities or airline operations teams. A typical week mixes lectures in operations management with case studies drawn from Irish and international aviation, plus workshops in safety management systems and regulatory compliance.

Entry is through the CAO, and applicants typically need a minimum of six subjects in the Leaving Certificate, including at least two at Higher level, meeting standard university matriculation requirements. Maths, Business, Geography, and Economics are useful leaving cert subjects, though no single science subject is usually mandatory. Points requirements are moderate and competition for places has been growing steadily as aviation has recovered post-pandemic. QQI Level 5 or 6 FET awards in Business, Travel and Tourism, or Logistics can provide a progression route for applicants without traditional Leaving Certificate points. Mature applicants aged 23 or over may apply directly and are assessed on relevant work experience in aviation, transport or logistics. HEAR and DARE access schemes are available at participating institutions for eligible applicants.

Ireland's position as a global hub for aviation leasing, combined with the scale of Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports, means demand for well-qualified aviation operations graduates remains solid. Graduate salaries for entry-level operations and coordination roles typically start in the range of €28,000 to €36,000 per year, with experienced managers earning considerably more. The leasing sector in particular offers attractive career progression for those who develop commercial and financial skills alongside their operational knowledge. Employment prospects are closely tied to global air travel demand, which has shown strong recovery and growth since 2022.