Crisis Communications and Modern Media Management for Aviation Professionals

4-day (20 hours) LIVE virtual classroom course

There will be 2 sessions per day, each session will be 150 minutes. Crises do not wait for ideal conditions. From operational incidents and safety events to cyberattacks, sustainability-related scrutiny, and viral customer complaints, aviation operates under intense public and media pressure. This practical, high-impact course equips participants to lead communications in high-pressure situations. Through realistic crisis simulations and media exercises, participants learn to respond in real time, communicate with clarity, manage media scrutiny, and protect organizational reputation—while aligning with operational realities and coordinating across key stakeholders. Reflecting today’s evolving risk landscape, the course includes modules on reputation management for low-visibility, high-impact issues; the use of Artificial Intelligence in crisis communications; sustainability communications, including managing credibility risks and greenwashing claims; and advanced media and digital monitoring tools to support rapid, informed response.



Course Code: ALC041VCEN03

Course format

• The live sessions of this virtual classroom course are delivered by an official IATA Instructor.
• The course will take you approximately 20 hours to complete and be held over 4 consecutive days.
• There will be 2 live interactive virtual classroom sessions per day, each session will be 150 minutes.
• The live sessions will require your participation, with multiple Q&A sessions and additional time spent on self-study material including projects, research, additional reading and videos.
• Student performance will be based on an assessment.

Technical requirements

Please verify your hardware, software and network to support your upcoming course with IATA Training.

Prerequisites

• Recommended level is Intermediate and Advanced.
• The recommended level of language proficiency is ICAO Operational Level 4 for courses in English or the equivalent level for other languages.

How to register

• When you click the Register button, you will be directed to log in to your Training Account. Please have your login details ready.
• Register early and save up to 25% at our Training Centers! Please read the Terms and Conditions for the early bird discount. The discount will be calculated at the time of payment.

To arrange in-house training for your company: Complete the in-house training request form or contact the B2B Training Specialist in your region.

Virtual venues

We schedule our virtual classroom courses through one of 3 virtual venues, each in a different time zone for your convenience. For more information, please visit our page on virtual classroom timing or contact our Customer Portal.

Upon completing this course, you will be able to:

• Lead crisis communications in high-pressure aviation scenarios, delivering clear and accurate messages under pressure
• Differentiate between crisis, emergency, and reputational issues and adapt responses as situations escalate
• Apply core crisis-communication principles aligned with operational realities, brand values, regulatory expectations, and ERP frameworks
• Coordinate communications across key stakeholders, including airlines, airports, regulators, and governments
• Manage media pressure by controlling interviews, preparing messaging, and selecting appropriate crisis spokespersons
• Assess and respond to complex and emerging threat environments, including cyber incidents, security risks, AI-related issues, and greenwashing

The key topics that are covered during this course include:

• Understanding today’s media landscape ▪ Crisis, emergency and reputation: defining the differences
• Crisis scenario planning and risk mapping
• Crisis communication strategy and alignment with emergency response plans
• Stakeholder communication and coordination
• Delivering clear and effective messages
• Spokesperson selection and preparation
• Media engagement and interview training
• Managing social media in a crisis
• Crisis monitoring and intelligence tools
• Reputation management in aviation
• Greenwashing
• AI in crisis communications: ally or adversary?
• Crisis case studies
• Integrated simulation and role-play: live media interviews and handling unexpected confrontations

This course is recommended for:

• Communications and public relations professionals
• Aviation professionals involved in crisis response, customer experience, or sustainability communications
• Airline and airport operations managers (including station management)
• Ground handling managers and supervisors
• Airport authorities and operators

An IATA Certificate of Completion is awarded to participants obtaining a grade of 70% or higher on an assessment. A special distinction is awarded to participants obtaining a grade of 90% or higher.