Outline

Overview

Aviation is an international growth industry offering extensive commercial and employment opportunities in airlines, airports, logistic providers, banks, consultancies and other players of the aviation supply chain. This unit covers all aspects of international business and management along the aviation value chain and analysis from the perspectives of consumers (passengers and cargo), producers, distributors, brokers and investors. Students develop industry skills and an understanding of the strategic management and economics of operating airlines and other aviation entities, including financial analysis, risk management, sustainability, logistics, innovations and implications of competitive strategies for the development of hubs and alliances both in the global and regional/remote context. The growth in air traffic (i.e. in the Asia/Pacific region) creates endless opportunities and the unit thus also covers forecasting, entrepreneurship and the role of the private sector in airline/airport business development. As a result of our strategic partnership with CAPA and a number of airlines and airports, students have access to industry databases, guest lecturers, company information and aviation contacts/networks.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	ITLS6400
Academic unit	Transport and Logistics Studies
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	TPTM6160
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Rico Merkert, rico.merkert@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Rico Merkert, rico.merkert@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam (Take-home extended release)	Final exam Written exam	30%	Formal exam period	48 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Individual assignment Written report	40%	Week 10	8 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Presentation Report, oral presentation	30%	Week 11	6 slides, 2 pages
Outcomes assessed:
= Type E final exam ?

Assessment summary

Individual assignment: The report will require students to analyse/evaluate and benchmark three airlines based on their economic, operational and financial performance. Students are also expected to develop strategy recommendations based on their benchmarking findings. Although most of the required data will be available from airline annual reports, the lecturer will provide students with additional data that is available to us through our partnership with CAPA.
Presentation: Students will need to demonstrate knowledge of fundamental strategy concepts as well as an understanding of the aviation industry. Student groups will develop a business plan for setting up an airline (passenger/cargo) or airport in the Asia/Pacific region. The teams will be organised similar to the functional organisation of an airline/airport or management consultancy, with one CEO/project manager and several line managers (marketing, forecasting/business development, finance, fleet management) and each team member is supposed to present the view/strategy of his/her department.
The final exam / quiz will cover key concepts of the material presented in the course. In order to prepare for the test, students should review the assigned readings and the lecture notes for the unit which will be available on Canvas

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

As per usual Business School policy

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	1. Introduction to course and air transportation; 2. Framework and structure of global aviation	Lecture (3.5 hr)
Week 01	3. Strategic analysis and the aviation value chain - Airline distribution case 4. Regional aviation as a business model (industry chat)	Seminar (3.5 hr)
Week 03	5. Demand/analysis pricing and forecasting 6. Cost control and success strategies	Lecture (3.5 hr)
Week 03	7. Profit/revenue management exercise 8. Cost and benchmarking exercises	Seminar (3.5 hr)
Week 05	9. Financial analysis; 10. Financial ratios	Lecture (3.5 hr)
Week 05	11. Airline evaluation (industry chat) 12. Strategic airline management and business models (case study)	Seminar (3.5 hr)
Week 07	13. Mergers and acquisitions and alliances; 14. Air cargo	Lecture (3.5 hr)
Week 07	15. Airline operation, scheduling and route management (cases and exercises) 16. Aircraft/Fleet management and leasing (industry chat)	Seminar (3.5 hr)
Week 09	17. Strategic Airport management 18. Models of privatisation, leasing and private equity engagement; business plan	Lecture (3.5 hr)
Week 09	19. Airport/Airline relationship management and process innovation in the LCC context (industry chat/case) 20. Airline sustainability (case); Airline spare part supply chain management (case)	Workshop (3.5 hr)
Week 11	Airline strategy/business plan group project	Workshop (7 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings: All lectures and seminars are recorded and will be available on Canvas for student use. Please note the Business School does not own the system and cannot guarantee that the system will operate or that every class will be recorded. Students should ensure they attend and participate in all classes.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

While we don’t prescribe a textbook for this unit, the following books may be useful for some background reading:

Budd, L. and Ison, S. (2020): Air transport management: an international perspective. 2nd ed. London; New York: Routledge.

Halpern, N. and Graham, A. (2018): The Routledge Companion to Air Transport Management, Routledge, London.

Doganis, R. (2019): Flying Off Course, 5th ed., Routledge, London and New York.

Morrell, P.S. (2019): Moving Boxes By Air: The Economics of International Air Cargo, 2nd Ed., Ashgate, Aldershot . An ebook is available at https://library.sydney.edu.au/about/library-projects/new-library-services-platform.html

Morrell, P.S. (2013): Airline finance, 2nd ed., Ashgate, Aldershot.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. develop a clear understanding of the economics, business models and managerial characteristics of the aviation markets
LO2. identify key stakeholders and value/supply chains and their interrelationships to each other
LO3. critically analyse strategic, tactical and operational issues of aviation management and logistics
LO4. develop airline strategies
LO5. demonstrate acquired skills that are necessary to pursue a successful international career in the various sectors of the aviation industry
LO6. evaluate and develop strategies for airlines/airports based on benchmarking and assessing key performance and financial indicators
LO7. demonstrate acquired communication skills through class participation and also through presentations in regards to setting up an airline/airport in Asia/Pacific in a group exercise
LO8. demonstrate acquired team working skills through setting up an airline/airport in Asia/Pacific in a group exercise.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Additional information

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

ITLS6400: Airline Strategy and Supply Chains

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect