1. Core Curriculum
Fundamentals of the Air Transport Industry
After this course, you have knowledge of basic concepts in the airline and airport industry and the rest of the air transport value chain. You will have a view on the diversity in equipment, market players and market organisation and understand how to apply the basic concepts in follow-up courses and real life. On the agenda: Economics fundamentals, Airline fundamentals, Airport fundamentals, Air cargo fundamentals and an excursion to Brussels Airport where we will visit the airport operations both on land- and airside.
Introduction to Global Supply Chain Management
A good knowledge of transport economics and of companies concerning Transport, Logistics & Supply Chains, is crucial in the program and is the main learning goal of this course. We equip you with the tools and principles that enable you to critically asses companies’ supply chain solutions and management strategies. You will better understand the different transport modes and types, transport and logistical economics (internal and external costs), profit and loss principles in transport, transport policies (European and worldwide) and the economics and trends of the Maritime and Air supply chains. Students gain knowledge on supply chain principles and economics, globalization in transport, environmental impacts and trends in supply chains, international eCommerce supply chains, digitization, Machine Learning, Robotics and Driverless Vehicles, etc.
Technology, Digital Innovation and Sustainability
You will be able to provide an overview of contemporary technological and innovation trends with links to sustainability, explain what is and which types of innovation are developed in the maritime supply chain and logistics and how they can be used. You will learn what are potential innovation processes steps, objectives and effectiveness of new technologies and innovation used in ports, intra- and inter-port communication and information exchange, logistics planning, airplane or technology providers. Students gain knowledge on how innovation networks contribute to innovation development and it offers academic insights with regard to innovation systems and innovation objectives.
Air Transport Market Analysis and Forecasting
After this course, you are able to appraise the key factors affecting demand for air travel and are able to analyse data and select the most appropriate model to produce a traffic forecast. You will learn to evaluate forecasting methods and interpret the results with confidence. You will be able to appraise and critique the work of other practitioners and specialists and to communicate effectively, in written and oral form, on air transport forecasts.
Air Transport Economics and Finance
Air Transport is a low-margin business. A good insight into the economics of airlines, airports, ground handlers and other players is essential to understanding and optimizing the value added in the air transport value chain. The course examines the financial trends and prospects for the airline industry, highlighting the differences in regional market developments. You will learn about the difference in cost and revenue structures of Full Service and Low-Cost Carriers, regional and leisure airlines, and full cargo airlines. After this course, you will be able to read financial statements and understand the working of aircraft leasing, equity financing, IPO’s and the US Chapter 11 procedure. These concepts will be illustrated with several practical examples and case studies discussed in class.
Airline Management and Strategy
This course will give you a clear understanding of the role, business economic functioning and competitive strategies of all actors in the aviation value chain, from the ‘spider in the web’, the airline, to ‘the web’ itself, the airports, air navigation suppliers, groundhandlers, etc. This course reviews the different business models and strategies for airlines and highlights their main attributes: product, network, scheduling, fleet, pricing, distribution and capacity management. It also discusses relatively new concepts like the multi-brand strategy, ultra-low-cost carriers, mega hub connectors, virtual airlines and airline-within-airline business models. The course uses concepts like comparison analysis, SWOT analysis, Business Model Canvas, Boston Consulting Group matrix, the Porter quadrant and game theory as frameworks to analyse and draft successful airline strategies.
Airport Management and Strategy
In this course, you acquire analytic skills to assess improvements and changes in different phases of the airports strategy and planning. You get a more in-depth insight in current challenges regarding pricing strategies in face of changing scenarios, we equip you with decision tools on airport development (expansion, cruise or contractions) and you will learn how to manage airports towards high level performance. We focus on Air Traffic, Airport Master Plans and environmental sustainability, Airport business models and strategies, regulation of Airports and Air Traffic Control and Airport marketing.
Airline Revenue Management
After this course, you can use industrial economic concepts to explain airline pricing behavior and understands the principles of airline revenue management and how they can be implemented to create value for the airline. You will also better understand the context (hypotheses) of different operation research models used in airline revenue management. You will be able to criticize realistic revenue management strategies put forward by others on their scientific integrity and strategic feasibility.
Airline Marketing
The Airline Marketing course explains how airlines differentiate their comparable products from each other. It discusses passenger and cargo segmentation and changes in customer needs and behaviors in the post COVID-19 era. In addition, it compares the marketing strategies of a range of airlines. It looks into the product adjustments that airlines have to make to adapt to changes in the marketing environment, such as schedule re-adjustments and the reconfiguration of aircraft cabins. Specific attention is given to the increase in alliance and joint-venture activity and the completion of several recent mergers. The resulting marketing advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Several case studies on successful and failing marketing strategies, product design, pricing and revenue management, distribution channels, and selling, advertising and promotional policies are discussed in the class.
Airline Business Game
During this course, you will gain knowledge and understanding of contemporary air transport developments based on transport, spatial and regional economic principles. We learn you how to answer questions about the air transport market in a clear and structured way based on your scientific insight into the air transport industry and you will illustrate your answers with examples. You will be able to analyze the functioning of the air transport market and respond to changes in that market in an ethically conscious way. You can also draw up a strategy for an air transport company in a dynamic environment. You will be challenged to communicate effectively, in written and oral form, on the knowledge gained at an academic level.
Note: This curriculum is subject to change.
