Business

Master of Aviation Management

The Master of Aviation Management is a specialised postgraduate programme that provides advanced study of aviation management, airline operations, airport management, aviation safety, and aviation law. The programme equips aviation professionals with management skills and knowledge for the aviation industry.

Core areas include airline operations management, airport management, aviation safety and security, aviation law and agreements, air transport management, strategic management, financial accounting, marketing management, and research methods. Students engage with both theoretical frameworks and practical aviation management applications.

The programme is offered by Moi University in collaboration with the East African School of Aviation (EASA), the training directorate of the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA). EASA is an ICAO Training Centre of Excellence (Platinum) and an IATA Top Regional Performer in Africa and the Middle East.

Students develop competencies in aviation management, airline operations, airport operations, aviation safety, aviation law, strategic management, and research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, and research project.

Moi University (public) charges KES 360,000 for the 1-year executive programme. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline. The programme is offered at EASA Embakasi Campus and Moi University Nairobi Campus.

Graduates pursue careers as airline managers, airport managers, aviation safety managers, aviation consultants, and aviation regulators in airlines, airports, civil aviation authorities, and aviation organisations.

Skills Required

Aviation Management and Operations
Airline Operations Management
Airport Management and Operations
Aviation Safety and Security Management
Aviation Law and Regulatory Compliance
Strategic Management in Aviation
Air Transport Management
Aviation Financial Management
Aviation Marketing and Customer Service
Aviation Research Methods

Key Subjects

Aviation Management and Operations
Airline Operations Management
Airport Management and Operations
Aviation Safety and Security
Aviation Law and Agreements
Air Transport Management
Strategic Management in Aviation
Financial Accounting for Aviation
Marketing Management in Aviation
Aviation Research Methods

Certifications

ICAO Aviation Management Certification
IATA Aviation Management Certification

Specializations

Airline Management

Focuses on airline management, airline operations, fleet management, route planning, revenue management, and managing and operating airlines.

Airport Management

Examines airport management, airport operations, ground handling, terminal management, airport security, and managing and operating airports.

Aviation Safety and Security

Covers aviation safety, aviation security, safety management systems, risk management, and managing and ensuring safety and security in aviation.

Aviation Law and Regulation

Focuses on aviation law, air law, regulatory compliance, ICAO standards, bilateral agreements, and understanding and applying aviation law and regulations.

Air Transport Management

Examines air transport management, air cargo, air freight, logistics, supply chain, and managing and operating air transport and cargo.

Strategic Aviation Management

Covers strategic management in aviation, strategy, planning, competition, and understanding and developing strategy in the aviation industry.

Duration: 1 year
Public, up to: Ksh 360,000
Private, up to: Ksh 700,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 25 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Aviation Management and Operations
Airline Operations Management
Airport Management and Operations
Aviation Safety and Security
Aviation Law and Agreements
Air Transport Management
Strategic Management in Aviation
Financial Accounting for Aviation
Marketing Management in Aviation
Aviation Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Theory and Practice of Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines management theory, management practice, organisational behaviour, leadership, and understanding and applying management principles in aviation.
Quantitative Techniques
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers quantitative techniques, statistics, operations research, decision analysis, and applying quantitative methods in aviation management.
Aviation Safety and Security
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines aviation safety, aviation security, safety management systems, risk management, and managing and ensuring safety and security in aviation.
Aviation Law and Agreements
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers aviation law, air law, regulatory compliance, ICAO standards, bilateral agreements, and understanding and applying aviation law and regulations.
Airline Operations Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines airline operations, fleet management, route planning, scheduling, crew management, and managing and operating airlines.
Strategic Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers strategic management, strategy, planning, competition, airline strategy, airport strategy, and understanding and developing strategy in aviation.
Marketing Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines marketing management, aviation marketing, customer service, sales, branding, and marketing and selling aviation products and services.
Financial Accounting
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers financial accounting, aviation finance, cost management, revenue management, budgeting, and managing finances in aviation.
Management Information Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines management information systems, aviation IT, reservation systems, data management, and understanding and applying IT in aviation management.
Air Transport Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers air transport management, air cargo, air freight, logistics, supply chain, and managing and operating air transport and cargo.
Human Resource Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines human resource management, HR in aviation, crew management, training, and managing human resources in aviation organisations.
Business Research Methods
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods, design, data collection, analysis, and conducting research in aviation management, culminating in a research project.

Specialisations

Airline Management
Focuses on airline management, airline operations, fleet management, route planning, revenue management, and managing and operating airlines.
Airport Management
Examines airport management, airport operations, ground handling, terminal management, airport security, and managing and operating airports.
Aviation Safety and Security
Covers aviation safety, aviation security, safety management systems, risk management, and managing and ensuring safety and security in aviation.
Aviation Law and Regulation
Focuses on aviation law, air law, regulatory compliance, ICAO standards, bilateral agreements, and understanding and applying aviation law and regulations.
Air Transport Management
Examines air transport management, air cargo, air freight, logistics, supply chain, and managing and operating air transport and cargo.
Strategic Aviation Management
Covers strategic management in aviation, strategy, planning, competition, and understanding and developing strategy in the aviation industry.

A day as a student

A typical day during the Master of Aviation Management programme at EASA/Moi University combines lectures, practical sessions, industry visits, and research. Sessions cover airline operations, airport management, aviation safety, aviation law, and strategic management. Airline operations sessions examine airline management, fleet management, route planning, revenue management, scheduling, and managing and operating airlines. Airport management sessions cover airport operations, ground handling, terminal management, airport security, and managing and operating airports. Aviation safety sessions examine safety management systems, risk management, safety oversight, accident investigation, and managing and ensuring safety in aviation. Aviation law sessions cover air law, regulatory compliance, ICAO standards, bilateral agreements, and understanding and applying aviation law and regulations. Strategic management sessions examine strategy, planning, competition, airline strategy, airport strategy, and understanding and developing strategy in the aviation industry. Financial sessions cover financial accounting, aviation finance, cost management, revenue management, and managing finances in aviation. Marketing sessions examine aviation marketing, customer service, sales, branding, and marketing and selling aviation products and services. Research methods sessions prepare students for their research project, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Practical training includes industry visits to airports, airlines, air traffic control, and aviation facilities. The programme is delivered at EASA Embakasi Campus, a premier aviation training institution. Guest lectures from aviation executives, regulators, and industry experts provide real-world insights. The programme culminates in a research project on an aviation management topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme offered in collaboration with EASA, an ICAO Training Centre of Excellence (Platinum) and IATA Top Regional Performer.
Kenya's growing aviation sector, JKIA hub status, and expanding airlines and airports create moderate demand for aviation management professionals.
Programme is 1-year executive format, allowing professionals to gain qualifications while minimising time away from work.
Career opportunities across airlines, airports, civil aviation authorities, logistics, and aviation consulting.

Against it

Programme is only offered at Moi University/EASA, providing no alternative institution choice.
Tuition of KES 360,000 for 1 year may be challenging for self-sponsored students.
Programme is designed for aviation professionals, limiting entry for those without aviation background.
Aviation industry is cyclical and vulnerable to economic downturns, pandemics, and fuel price fluctuations, affecting job stability.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 331 business courses

Public360k to 360k

360k at Moi University360k at Moi University

Private119k to 700k

119k at Mount Kenya University700k at Strathmore University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

Moi/EASA Exec MBA Aviation 360,000 (easa.ac.ke). MKU 119,100. Strathmore 350,000x2=700,000/yr.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. ICAO supports aviation training globally through its Training Centre of Excellence programme. IATA offers scholarship programmes for aviation professionals. The programme's aviation industry focus attracts airline, airport, and aviation organisation funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
ICAO Training Funding
IATA Scholarship Programmes

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate aviation management studies at recognised universities.
ICAO Training Funding
FellowshipKsh 250,000
ICAO supports aviation training globally through its Training Centre of Excellence programme, providing fellowships for aviation professionals.
IATA Scholarship Programmes
ScholarshipKsh 200,000
IATA offers scholarship programmes for aviation professionals pursuing postgraduate aviation management studies.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme is offered as an Executive MBA (Aviation Option) in collaboration with EASA at Embakasi Campus. The programme runs for 1 year with intakes in January and September. Application is through Moi University admissions portal. The programme is designed for aviation professionals seeking management qualifications. Contact EASA or Moi University for specific admission requirements and procedures.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, case studies, aviation management exercises, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering aviation management, airline operations, aviation safety, aviation law, and strategic management.
Industry Project
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through industry project, addressing a real aviation management challenge, and producing an industry project report.
Research Project
Research100% of the mark
Original research project on an aviation management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Moi University offers the Executive MBA (Aviation Option) in collaboration with the East African School of Aviation (EASA), the training directorate of the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA). EASA is an ICAO Training Centre of Excellence (Platinum) and IATA Top Regional Performer. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate aviation management training.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Moi University offers the Executive MBA (Aviation Option) in collaboration with EASA. EASA is an ICAO Training Centre of Excellence (Platinum) and IATA Top Regional Performer. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate aviation management training.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Airline Manager
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages airline operations, overseeing fleet, routes, scheduling, crew, and ensuring efficient and safe airline operations.
Airport Manager
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages airport operations, overseeing terminal, ground handling, security, and ensuring efficient and safe airport operations.
Aviation Safety Manager
Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages aviation safety, overseeing safety management systems, risk assessment, compliance, and ensuring safety in aviation operations.
Aviation Consultant
Low demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 650,000
Consults on aviation matters, overseeing advisory, analysis, strategy, and providing aviation expertise and solutions to clients.
Aviation Regulator
Low demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 550,000
Regulates aviation, overseeing compliance, licensing, safety oversight, and supporting aviation regulation and standards.
Air Cargo Manager
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages air cargo operations, overseeing cargo handling, logistics, supply chain, and ensuring efficient air cargo operations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as airline managers, airport managers, aviation safety managers, and aviation consultants in airlines, airports, civil aviation authorities, and aviation organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Amadeus
SoftwarePrimary
Airline reservation and distribution system for airline management, booking, inventory, and managing airline reservations and operations.
Sabre
Software
Airline reservation and management system for airline operations, booking, revenue management, and managing airline reservations and operations.
Microsoft Excel
Software
Spreadsheet software for aviation data analysis, financial modelling, operations analysis, and managing aviation data and calculations.
SPSS
Software
Statistical software for aviation research, survey analysis, and quantitative data analysis in aviation management research.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Aviation management is just about flying planes.
The programme covers management, operations, safety, law, finance, and strategy in aviation, far beyond flying. Pilots and managers have distinct roles.
A master's in aviation management is only for pilots.
The programme is designed for aviation professionals including managers, administrators, regulators, and those in airlines, airports, and aviation organisations.
There are limited career opportunities in aviation management in Kenya.
Kenya's growing aviation sector, JKIA hub status, and expanding airlines and airports create demand for qualified aviation management professionals.
Aviation management is the same as general business management.
While grounded in management principles, aviation management specifically addresses aviation industry challenges, regulations, safety, and operations.
The programme is only for those already working in aviation.
While designed for aviation professionals, the programme also accepts graduates from related fields seeking to enter aviation management.
Aviation management is a narrow specialisation with limited application.
Aviation management skills are applicable across airlines, airports, civil aviation authorities, logistics, tourism, and consulting, offering diverse career paths.