My first year studying International Airline and Airport Management: Harrison's story
Hear from Harrison as he prepares for his second year studying International Airline and Airport Management. He reflects on his first year at Surrey – from trips and placements to the highlights of student life – and also shares how he’s developed his time-management skills along the way.
"Choosing International Airline and Airport Management was a very straight forward one that I based on the glowing rankings which placed the University of Surrey as the leading University in the UK for Hospitality and Tourism; it was also positioned third in the world. And, I am pleased to report, the first year of the course matched my expectations!
Hands-on learning
The particular highlights of the first year were the inspiring lectures of Airline and Cargo Operations, which consolidated the previous work experience I had completed a couple of years ago in private aviation. Furthermore, the hands-on approach to the course suited me completely.
The visit to Farnborough Airport with TAG Aviation, allowed us to practise real-life emergency situations inside a cabin, extinguishing fires which may occur mid-flight. This experience also included how to cope in dire situations in an extreme environment.
Industry speakers
There were also three notable speakers to listen to:
- Firstly, the ex CEO of British Airways, Álex Cruz, where he discussed the impact of COVID-19 prior, during and after the pandemic. This included the implications for day-to-day passengers and cargo operations. For me, it emphasised the world-wide devastation that affected British Airways and other industries associated with this renowned airline.
- We also heard from Dr Frankie O’Connell who is a lecturer at the University of Surrey and has decades of experience working with over 55 airlines worldwide. He gave us invaluable information and advice on our assessment presentations in the Airline and Cargo Operations module. He gave praiseworthy comments overall and identified that I needed to be more conscious of time-management.
- Finally, Charles Abraham, who also studied at Surrey Hospitality and Tourism Management and is now a senior leader in Food Service and Food Manufacturing, emphasised how catering for passenger airlines is a full-on exercise on how customers experience sustainability, health and safety regulations and cost control, all of which are of the upmost importance. Following on from the morning lecture, the afternoon seminar included a practical exercise in the importance of design and space management of cabin meals.
Life outside of lectures
Of course there is life outside of lectures and work! When I joined the University of Surrey, I didn’t know a single person! However, everyone was so friendly and caring, I made friends instantly, whether it was through my course, my first year flat or even familiar faces around campus. You’ll find that everyone is in the same boat and all want to make new friends. Through these new friendships I was able to organise future plans for housing in my second year and beyond.
Placement opportunities
To end what has been a fantastic year, I secured a three-month paid summer work experience with Air Charter Service as an Operations Controller in Surbiton. This was only possible through the Surrey Hospitality and Tourism Management careers fair. This placement allowed me to learn and develop from an experienced group of people and put into practice the knowledge and professional skills I had gained during my first year. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and was able to cope with challenging situations that affect day-to-day flight operations. In particular, my time management skills have matured considerably. In addition, it was great to be a part of a 24/7 operation, handling world-wide flights and very long shifts!
I appreciate all the help and support I’ve had at the University and those associated with it!"
Find out more about International Airline and Airport Management BSc here.
