Summary
The station manager or agent is in charge of both ground and flight operations, including the passenger services, aircraft handling, and air cargo. At a small airport, station managers may also be responsible for selling tickets, checking in baggage, making announcements, moving portable boarding stairs, preparing passengers and cargo, and performing other necessary services.
Duties
An airline station manager is in charge of the following: direct and coordinate airline station activities at transport stations; review reports on the station activity to determine data needed for planning station operations; direct the arrangement of work schedules for optimum employment of human resources and facilities. Airline station managers also coordinate activities such as passenger reservations and ticketing, commissary services, ramp and cargo services, and dispatching of aircraft to ensure that all these activities meet the policies and regulations of the company as well as the government. The airline station manager also directs the preparation of the lists of passenger or cargo, as well as plans, and evaluates staff to establish and conceptualize training to promote efficiency.
Education and Training Requirements
A college background is considered important for those who want to apply for an airline station manager job. Preferably, they must specialize in business, marketing, finance or any related course.
Knowledge and Skills Requirements
To be successful in this field, one must possess excellent oral and written communication skills, interpersonal skills, superior problem solving skills and good administrative skills. The airline station manager must be motivated, goal-oriented, open minded, and has the ability to analyze, evaluate, and implement rules, handle customers and employees well and work well under pressure. Airline station managers must have a genuine passion in providing customer service and have the ability to manage his/her time, particularly when he/she may be required to work for 10 or 12 hours a day.
Working Conditions
Normally, station managers work in a clean, modern office at the airport. However, he may work outdoors, which depends on how big the airport and the staff are, which makes the airline station manager position a highly visible position. Often stationed at the gate area of some airports, they are usually the second person that a passenger meets in the airport. Because the gate area of some airports operate all day long, shift work is required of a station manager within a 40-hour week period.
Salary
The average salary for an airline station manager is $57,000, which can vary significantly due to company, location, industry, experience and benefits.
