How to Work in Airline Network Planning: A Critical Role in Airline Management

The airline industry connects the world, and it continues to grow, with passenger demand expected to increase by 3.8% annually for the 2023-2043 period,[1] and cargo keeping pace. Today, there are 330 IATA member airlines from over 120 countries, which account for more than 80% of the world's air traffic, and maintaining those airlines as going concerns is the role of various management functions.

Have you ever thought about who decides where an airline flies to and why? Network planners design and adjust an airline's route map to maximize revenue while minimizing costs. Decisions regarding an airline’s network therefore typically have the biggest impact on the airline’s overall financial performance, and network management is widely considered the most critical function of an airline.

What is a day in the life of an airline network planning manager?

Network planning management is not just about deciding where to fly based on demand. The network planning manager must take into account a host of factors when recommending decisions, but also ensure the airline continues to be able to cover its network. In a typical day, they will work with many other functions across the airline to obtain the information they need, and ensure every eventuality is considered and every department is aligned. It is a highly complex and challenging role.

• Analyze data to make strategic decisions and plan the airline’s growth:
  • Review network performance through sales and seasonality data, route profitability, schedule on-time performance.
  • Conduct market analyses of competitor fleet plans, capacity, alliances, network and schedules; of macro-economic trends and of regulatory evolution.
  • Research, identify and evaluate commercial opportunities.
  • Build business cases based on sensitivity and opportunity cost analyses.

• Lead long-range schedule-building and -optimization:
  • Determine appropriate aircraft for each route based on range, fuel efficiency, and load capacity.
  • Decide scheduling for each route based on historical profitability data, connecting times, alliance agreements, opportunity cost, and competitive offerings.
  • Assess operational feasibility, including whether there are available slots, route rights exist or can be obtained, airport operating hours fit, and crew duty limitations allow.
  • Evaluate operational efficiency, determining whether aircraft, crew and ramp handling use is optimal.
  • Conduct several rounds of cross-functional iterations to obtain all relevant signoffs before implementing the final schedule.
• Develop and manage the airline’s network:
  • Roll out plans for new destinations, or growing or reducing capacity in existing markets, in close collaboration with other functions, taking into account regulatory rights, PR events, operations planning, sales, marketing, and distribution.
  • Adjust capacity through demand forecasting together with other commercial functions, including changing departure and arrival times or type of aircraft, or adding or removing flights for operational or commercial reasons.

• Manage and continuously update the fleet plan:
  • Take into account short-term availability, such as routine inspections, planned or unplanned maintenance, grounded aircraft, the need to swap aircraft.
  • Incorporating new fleet deliveries, existing lease expirations, older fleet retirement, planned inspections and maintenance.
  • Work closely with procurement, crew planning, fleet acquisition and engineering departments to plan for future resource needs and coordinate procurement actions.

What are the essential skills and capabilities required in this role?

To become an airline network planning manager, it is necessary to have a thorough understanding of what network planning involves, having exercised it at a lower level. All levels of network planning require analytical skills, strategic thinking, and collaboration, with the aim of ensuring the airline operates efficiently and meets market demands.

Why pursue a career as an airline network planning manager?

Airline network planning offers a unique blend of strategy, analysis, and impactful decision-making. For people who know that details make all the difference, and seek out valuable information to feed strategic plans, this line of work offers the opportunity to manage highly complex tasks and multi-department projects.

• Strategic impact – Airline network planning plays a pivotal role in shaping the airline's offering in terms of routes, and in optimizing operations, directly influencing airline profitability and competitive edge. In this role, by solving problems through data analysis, you can contribute to complex decisions that impact the profit and loss statement (P&L).
• Dynamic environment – Air transport is one of the most fast-paced industries, constantly evolving, and often under pressure. Airline network planning provides multiple opportunities to contribute to innovative strategies and solutions that improve passenger experience and operational efficiency. Additionally, you’ll work with a variety of departments, from marketing to operations, enhancing your communication and teamwork skills.
• Career growth opportunities – As well as the clear paths for advancement the airline industry offers, leading to more senior roles and responsibilities, airline network planning enables you to develop skills that are transferable to other aviation industry sectors, such as aircraft manufacturing, airport management, aircraft leasing, rail, travel technology and data analytics, cargo and freight, or business aviation.

What is the expected career path?

As a highly strategic and cross-functional role, network planning is the ideal starting point for a career in airline management that could reach the highest echelons.

• Team member – You can become a Network Planning Analyst or Route Planning Analyst or a similar role fresh out of university. These positions typically involve data analysis, demand forecasting, market research, and collaboration with commercial teams.
• Team leader – With three to ten years’ experience in coordinating, scheduling, planning and forecasting, you will potentially be ready to lead a team. A Network Planning Manager, Senior Network Planner, or Operations Planning Manager typically oversees a small team, leading projects on new route launches, and working more closely with other departments, such as revenue management, fleet planning, and operations.
• Strategic leader – With seven to fifteen years’ experience, you may wish to seek a senior management role, such as Senior Network Planning Manager, Director of Route Development or Director of Network Planning, to guide network strategy and make key decisions on route capacity. These roles also present strategic plans to executives, collaborating with others on fleet and capacity decisions, and developing long-term network initiatives that fit with the overall airline strategy.
  
  From there, you can aspire to be Vice-President of Network Planning and Strategy, or Head of Network Planning, leading the airline’s entire network planning department, and directly influencing the airline’s growth strategy, new market entries, fleet planning, and business strategy. As Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) or Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), you would ultimately be responsible for the network of the airline, and oversee strategic decision-making for the entire commercial organization, including revenue management, sales and distribution, and fleet acquisition.

How to start your journey to becoming an airline network planning manager?

Is it worth becoming an airline network planning manager?

Network planning and management is widely considered the most critical function of an airline, because of its impact on an airline’s financial performance. The network planning manager must take into account a host of factors when recommending decisions, working closely with many other functions, but also ensure the airline continues to be able to execute its network strategy and deliver the schedule in a safe and value-adding way. It is a highly complex and challenging role, offering a unique blend of strategy, analysis, and impactful decision-making, and is the ideal starting point for a career in airline management that could reach the highest echelons.

Airline network planning manager also includes operations planning manager, route development manager, network scheduling analyst, flight scheduling analyst, network optimization analyst, airline capacity planner, route strategy manager, fleet and network planner and similar titles. 

[1] https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/2024-releases/2024-06-03-01/