OPM 584: Case Studies in Airline Operations Management

Contents
In this course, participants will have the opportunity to complete an airline operations-related case study in a team. Students will be challenged to collaboratively design a new passenger airline in a niche market. The project integrates multiple facets of airline planning, including business strategy, logistics, operational considerations, and market analysis. Students are encouraged to apply theoretical knowledge, conduct research, and demonstrate creativity while maintaining realism in their assumptions and proposed solutions. The managerial decisions ahead are very complex, involving many alternatives with different impact, and trade-offs between key performance measures must be made.
Objectives are to
1. Design a business plan for the passenger airline catering to tourism traffic in a niche market.
2. Analyze factors such as base location, regulatory requirements, staffing, passenger flow, and aircraft selection.
3. Identify key threats and opportunities for the airline.
4. Propose realistic and data-driven solutions to address identified challenges.
Further details will be announced in the syllabus (published in the OPM 584 ILIAS course in due time). Students will work in teams on the assigned case.

Learning outcomes
Students will intensify their understanding of the airline industry and operations, applying managerial concepts and analytical tools in a broader, interdisciplinary and strategic context to practical case studies.
The course should be useful for anyone with an intention of going into consulting, industry, or with a desire to set up their own business.

Necessary prerequisites
Note: This course does not count as an OPM5xx core course and therefore does not serve as a prerequisite for OPM6xx courses. It has no prerequisites.

Recommended prerequisites
Basic knowledge in Business and Operations Management