Five reasons to study International Airline and Airport Management BSc at Surrey

Surrey has 60 years’ experience of training leaders in travel, tourism and hospitality. Our International Airline and Airport Management BSc provides you with a wealth of personal, professional and academic opportunities in the aviation industry.

Here are the top five reasons why you should choose the University of Surrey.

1. Gain excellent employability skills

On our International Airline and Airport Management degree, we will give you the practical skills to get your career off to a flying start after graduation.

With a perfect blend of academic knowledge and practical skills, you will be equipped to meet both the present and future needs of the industry. You could study modules that unpack space tourism!
Take part in field trips, careers fairs and guest lectures. 
You’ll apply your learning through an airline strategy simulation, managing a virtual airline and making decisions on operations, marketing, finance and teamwork in a realistic competitive environment.
You’ll learn how to use data for decision-making by working with industry-specialist databases, such as Cirium, OAG and Sabre Market Intelligence.
Our Professional Training Placements also means you can gain work experience to complement your studies before you graduate.
We are one of a select group of UK universities which is recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT). This recognition validates our exemplary record of graduate employment, and enhanced student opportunities achieved through industry networks and staff involved in world-leading research.

And that's why, 96 per cent of our undergraduate Surrey Hospitality and Tourism Management graduates are in employment or further education (Graduate Outcomes 2026, HESA).

2. Our unique proximity to three of the world’s largest airports

Map showing proximity of University of Surrey to Heathrow and Gatwick airports

A particular highlight has been participating in industry excursions, including a visit to Farnborough Airport where I experienced cabin crew fire and safety training. These hands on opportunities enhance the learning experience and clearly demonstrate how the theoretical knowledge is applied in practice.

Mahi, International Airline and Airport Management BSc (Hons) student

We are situated halfway between London Heathrow and London Gatwick, airports which serve over 120 global airlines. We are also close to Farnborough Airport, the largest and the most pre-eminent business aviation airport in the UK. Our location to these three airports allows us to develop outstanding links to the aviation industry that translates into learning opportunities to our students .

See here to watch our students undertake safety and emergency training at the TAG Global training facility at Farnborough Airport and read how our students worked on a consultancy project at London Gatwick Airport.

3. Impressive guest speakers

We integrate visits from external speakers and experts which provide opportunities for you to launch your professional network. 

We regularly host events for our students to hear from visiting academics, researchers and other professionals who share their insight and give insider-tips gained from real-life industry experience. We can do this because we have an extensive network of over 12,000 professional contacts who actively share their knowledge and expertise with us. We have had CEOs, founders, directors of operations, and consultants come and speak and inspire our students. 

Recent speakers include Rob Britton, former Managing Director for Marketing at American Airlines, Professor Rigas Doganis, Air Transport Adviser to the European Commmission, the UN and the World Bank, Mark Breen (CEO of Oneiros Aerospace; ex CEO of Fly A Deal; ex COO of Oman Air; ex COO of Cebu Pacific) and Sophie Dekkers, Chief Commercial Officer at easyJet.

4. Consistently highly ranked

By studying with us, you will learn from leaders in the sector. Internationally, we are ranked 1st in the UK and  3rd in the world for hospitality and tourism management in the Shanghai Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2025.

We are ranked 1st in the UK (16th in the world) for hospitality and leisure management (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025), 1st for tourism, transport, travel and heritage studies in the Complete University Guide 2027, and 3rd for hospitality, leisure and tourism in the The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026.

5. Excellent teaching experience

Our dedicated team of teaching experts and practitioners have exceptional links to the airline and airport community, enabling them to offer career advice specific to the industry.

They bring a wealth of classroom-based experience to your studies, alongside guided support to help with future employability, career coaching and CV development.

Dr Frankie O’Connell has advised and trained more than 55 airlines around the world.
Dr Nicole Cocolas has collaborated on projects with UNWTO and worked as a strategic advisor on climate for the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA).
Dr Nikolas Thomopoulos is an elected member of the University Transport Study Group (UTSG) Executive Committee, the UK’s oldest transport studies group.