MBA in Aviation Management

MBA in Aviation Management has been designed to provide for the demands and needs of the rapidly changing global aviation industry. Management professionals who specialise in Aviation Management stand out amongst those who belong to the other MBA specialisations, hence, they are the perfect fit for this industry. In the MBA in Aviation Management course, students receive the opportunity to acquire those abilities that would assist them to be at par with the regularly evolving aviation industry. There is no specific pre-requirement for the course which means that students from any specialisation can pursue MBA in Aviation Management.

MBA in Aviation Management is a postgraduate course that is completed in two or three years, depending on the mode of study. The various modes offered by universities are full-time, part-time, online and distance modes, and the annual fee for the course can fluctuate between INR 3,00,000 and INR 12,00,000.  Management graduates in aviation management are adept at discerning the critical elements of the ground, flight, cost adequacy, etc. in addition to the administration aptitudes that are essential for foreseeing and governing the various business difficulties.

Students get admission to MBA in aviation management through CAT, MAT, GMAT, SNAP, and NMAT.  Those who wish to pursue the course can take admission to top colleges like MS Ramaiah University, Manipal University, ITM University, IPE University, and BML University. With the gigantic development in the sector of the aviation industry, an MBA with specialisation in Aviation Management has become one of the upcoming trends that allure the student population consistently for its lucrative jobs and interesting work profile such as supply chain manager, airline manager, and flight manager. The top recruiters are Hindustan Aeronautics, Spice Jet, Jet Airways, Indigo, and others. The average salary earned by graduates is between INR 6,00,000 and INR 10,00,000.

Following is the important highlights of an MBA in Aviation Management course:

An MBA in Aviation Management helps graduates to thrive in various roles in the aviation industry. Here are some reasons for students to choose MBA in Aviation Management:

• Aviation Management programme focuses on the core business structure of the aviation industry, thereby helping students to gain knowledge of various aviation jobs. Candidates can seek employment in airline operation, airport management, airport consulting, air transportation, aircraft manufacturing, sales, and aviation insurance.
• The Aviation industry is growing at a rapid pace, requiring thousands of professionals in the aviation and airline enterprises. The programme is designed to guide students in exciting aviation careers.
• Candidates are able to apply for a manager and director-level position in the aviation industry after completing MBA in Aviation Management.
• Candidates will be able to expand their horizons and travel all around the world. 

Candidates are able to get a higher package after completing MBA in Aviation Management. There is ample scope for career advancement after completing the course.

MBA in Aviation Management helps students gain specialist skills and knowledge to meet the need for talented managers in the dynamic aviation sector. There are a few modes of pursuing Aviation Management studies depending on the time students can dedicate to the course. The various types of MBA in Aviation Management are given below: 

Full-time MBA in Aviation Management

This two-year course is for students who can dedicate time to full-time study. It is to be pursued in regular mode through classroom and experiential teaching and learning. The course is tailored to assist students to develop expertise in business and management besides the aviation sector. 

Part-time MBA in Aviation Management

MBA in Aviation Management has a lot to offer to candidates, who can enjoy an excellent salary and employment benefits. The course is available in the part-time mode where students generally attend classes during weekends or evenings. The course may take two to three years to complete. 

Online MBA in Aviation Management 

In order to become a part of the multi-faceted aviation industry, students can complete an online MBA in Aviation Management. In this mode, they do not need to visit any institution to attend classes. They can graduate by taking virtual classes from their devices. The course provides students with the flexibility to pursue it and professionals can also take part in it without quitting their jobs. 

Distance MBA in Aviation Management

A distance MBA in Aviation Management is a perfect fit for those who want to complete their degree and work at the same time. It may take more time to complete than a regular MBA. Candidates do not need to attend regular classes and admission to the course may require a few years of professional expertise. The course teaches students broad management skills with a focus on the aviation sector.

Students have to appear for management-related entrance examinations to get admission to MBA in Aviation Management. The cut-off scores in these exams are an important deciding factor for admission. Here are some of the entrance exams for an MBA in Aviation Management:

• CAT: The full form of CAT is Common Admission Test. It is the most popular test to gain admission to Aviation Management courses at IIMs and top management institutes in India. It is a computer-based test of 2 hours
• MAT: Management Aptitude Test or MAT is conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA). The test results are accepted by more than 800 institutes across the country. The exam duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes. It is preferred by students who wish to study MBA in Aviation Management.
• NMAT: The NMAT exam is also known as NMIMS Management Aptitude Test. The GMAC is the conducting body of the exam. The duration of the NMAT is 2 hours and is a computer-adaptive online test. Students can choose to take this entrance test for admission to MBA in Aviation Management. 
• XAT: Xavier Aptitude Test, that is XAT is conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur once a year in online mode. The test results are accepted by a few popular business schools in India.

Given below are the eligibility criteria for an MBA in Aviation Management course.

• The candidate must have obtained a bachelor's degree from a recognized institute.
• Candidates belonging to the general category must score a minimum of 50% aggregate marks. For SC/ST candidates, a minimum of 45% aggregate is required in the qualifying course.
• It is mandatory for the candidate to have qualified an MBA entrance exam conducted by the institution.
  Check the schedule of MBA entrance exams in India.
• Final year students can also apply, but they are given provisional admission until they furnish all the required certificates within the stipulated time.

Candidates can check the process of admission for MBA in Aviation Management courses given below.

• Candidates are required to appear for an MBA entrance exam and submit their exam scores with the college application form.
• The colleges release a cutoff and candidates who qualify are shortlisted for the admission process.
• Shortlisted candidates must then appear for a WAT/GD/PI round at the college. This process may also be conducted online.
• Colleges send invites to the candidates who are allotted a seat. Such candidates have to get their documents verified and confirm admission via fee payment before any specified deadline.
• Some colleges also grant direct admission based on the merit of the candidate in their undergraduate course.

The admission process employed by different colleges may have slight variations from the one specified above. Check the college admission brochure carefully for all of the details. Also, check these other related articles for more information.

The popular MBA colleges in Aviation Management provide students with an overview of airline and airport management and its institutional framework. They also provide knowledge of airport planning, management and operations that is crucial to begin the role of an Aviation management professional. The popular colleges in India offering MBA in Aviation Management are: 

Studying MBA in Aviation Management abroad provides students with the opportunity to apply existing and emerging management principles in scheduling, handling, and operations related to aviation. They will get opportunities throughout the entire aviation industry ecosystem to meet the wide-ranging and prevalent domestic and global challenges. Graduates from institutes abroad will get a competitive edge in their careers. Some of the popular colleges for an MBA in Aviation Management abroad are:

MBA in Aviation Management is a unique course that can help professionals to reach greater heights. Often the course fee of this particular MBA specialisation is high but students must not worry as there are other cheaper alternative colleges too. Here is a list of MBA colleges that provide an MBA in Aviation Management and their annual average course fee has been provided:

The syllabus of MBA in Aviation Management is provided below. 

First Year:

Second Year:

List of Electives for Second Year:

The course curriculum for MBA in Aviation Management is specially developed to equip professionals for the aviation sector where leadership skills, critical thinking and analytical skills and creative skills are imparted to the students. The curriculum is designed through extensive research, and consultation with aircraft industries, aerospace R&D centres, airlines, airports and academic institutions. Here is a detailed overview of the course curriculum that students must understand:

• The programme is spread over four semesters.
• The first and second semester is common with all other management programmes.
• The elective subjects cover airport and airline management subjects.
• Students have to undertake project work during the second year in association with industry partners. 
• The course will include classroom inputs, seminars, case studies, industrial visits and internships.

The average salary earned by an MBA in Aviation Management degree holder in India is around Rs. 13,40,000 per year. The course paves the way to some very high-paying jobs in the aviation industry and hence has good salary prospects. The starting salary in this industry can be around Rs. 3-4 LPA while senior-level salaries can reach over Rs. 20 LPA.

It is estimated that around 95% of the Indian population have no exposure to the aviation sector and hence it is a massive pool of untapped potential to investors in India and abroad. This is a dynamic and ever-evolving market that provides a plethora of opportunities to aspirants in several industries aviation regulatory authorities, national airports, international airports, airlines, air cargo operators, ground handling companies, aviation fuel companies, MRO companies, global travel and tourism operators and allied aviation service providers. 

Students can find job opportunities and can build their careers in

• Flight Analysis
• Business Development
• Airline/Airport Revenue Forecasting
• Loyalty Program Management
• Fueling Management
• Airline Operations Management
• Corporate Planning & Strategy
• Airport Operations Management
• Ticketing and Passenger Services

Some common job roles that are undertaken by graduates who complete an MBA in aviation management are 

The course of MBA in aviation management opens new doors for candidates with respect to jobs and career options. The aviation industry is at a steady growth and hence it provides good salary packages to the employees that come under the spectrum of that field. Some common job roles that are undertaken by graduates who complete an MBA in aviation management are provided below.

• Aircraft Maintenance Manager
• Trainer
• Airlines Customer Relationship Manager
• Aviation Ground Staff Trainer
• Assistant Marketing Manager
• Aviation Operations Specialist
• Grooming and Aviation Trainer
• Corporate Sales Manager
• Security Supervisor
• Assistant Manager
• Airport Manager
• Airport Operations Manager
• Airport Traffic Controllers
• Aviation Faculty
• Cargo Operations Manager

The jobs in the aviation sector require high levels of competence because of the technical nature of the industry as well as other cost and safety-related implications. Therefore appropriate professional skillsets are necessary to tackle everyday activities as an MBA in Aviation Management graduate. A comprehensive mix of both hard and soft skills that include technical knowledge and excellent organisational skills and the ability to operate well under pressure. Students may consider cultivating and honing the following skills to excel as aviation managers and executives:

• Interpersonal Skills: An aviation personnel should be great at interacting with people. They work with industry professionals and stakeholders and must have interpersonal skills such as empathy and compassion that will help them succeed.
• Communication Skills: As a manager, it is very crucial to have confidence and the ability to convey directions to others therefore verbal as well as written communication skills should be excellent. 
• Customer Service Skills: It is necessary to prioritise the needs and demands of the customers and respond to their queries and problems helps to develop good client relationships and develop the reputation of the organisation.
• Dependability: This is an important feature that makes one accountable for the activities and helps others to depend on them for various activities. It will build trust with your customers as well as with your team members.
• Problem-Solving Abilities: The dynamic aviation industry faces new challenges every day. It is extremely necessary to have a good grasp of industry-specific facts that makes solving problems easier. One must also follow others and see how they are facing tough situations and learn to implement similar strategies in their work.