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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Airport Operations Coordinator

💰 $ - $

Airport OperationsAviationOperations Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

The Airport Operations Coordinator is responsible for managing and coordinating daily airport operational activities to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant airside and terminal operations. This role acts as the central point for flight coordination, ramp and ground handling oversight, stakeholder communication (airlines, ground handlers, ATC, security, and contractors), and incident response. The ideal candidate combines strong operational judgment, regulatory knowledge (ICAO/IATA/FAA or relevant local authority), excellent communication, and the ability to work under pressure in a 24/7 shift environment.

Key SEO phrases: Airport Operations Coordinator, airport operations, ramp operations, ground handling, flight coordination, aviation safety, terminal operations, airport duty officer.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Ramp Agent / Ground Handling Agent
  • Customer Service Agent (Airline) or Guest Services Representative
  • Operations Assistant / Duty Officer Support

Advancement To:

  • Airport Operations Supervisor / Senior Airport Operations Coordinator
  • Duty Manager / Terminal Operations Manager
  • Airport Operations Manager or Airside Operations Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Flight Operations Coordinator
  • Ramp or Ground Services Supervisor
  • Airport Security Manager or Safety & Compliance Officer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Coordinate daily flight operations and slot management by liaising with airlines, air traffic control (ATC), ground handlers, and airport stakeholders to ensure timely aircraft turnaround and minimize delays.
  • Act as the operational hub for real-time monitoring of arrivals, departures, and flight irregularities; proactively reallocate resources to mitigate disruption and meet on-time performance (OTP) targets.
  • Manage ramp and apron activity, including aircraft marshaling coordination, towing, pushback scheduling, and gate allocation to optimize safe aircraft movements and ramp efficiency.
  • Oversee ground handling and baggage operations by coordinating staff assignments, equipment (belt loaders, tugs, GPU), and prioritization to meet service level agreements (SLAs) with airline partners.
  • Serve as the airport duty officer during assigned shifts, taking lead on incident management, coordinating emergency response, and communicating critical information to stakeholders and senior management.
  • Ensure compliance with aviation regulations, local airport bylaws, and company policies by monitoring operations and coordinating audits, inspections, and corrective actions.
  • Maintain and update operational documentation, shift logs, NOTAM updates, ARO/PSR reports, and post-incident reports to support continuity, regulatory compliance, and performance analysis.
  • Coordinate de-icing/anti-icing operations, including contractor scheduling, monitoring weather and runway conditions, and ensuring RWY/Apron safety protocols are strictly followed.
  • Implement and monitor safety management system (SMS) processes on the ramp and terminal, facilitating hazard reporting, safety briefings, and corrective action follow-up.
  • Facilitate daily operational briefings with airline representatives, ground handlers, ATC, security, and fueling teams to align on priorities and manage resource constraints.
  • Manage airport resources during irregular operations (IROPS), including crew accommodation coordination, passenger rebooking liaison, and prioritization of flights based on operational impact.
  • Liaise with cargo, VIP and charter operations to coordinate special handling, slot access, and ground service provision while keeping regular operations stable.
  • Supervise contractor activity on airside (e.g., maintenance, construction, fueling) ensuring permits, airside driving authorizations, and safety controls are in place.
  • Monitor and analyze operational KPIs (turnaround times, baggage handling KPIs, OTP, ramp safety incidents) and provide actionable recommendations to improve efficiency.
  • Coordinate passenger flow and gate assignments during peak periods or disruptions to minimize wait times and ensure efficient boarding and disembarkation processes.
  • Maintain situational awareness for security and access control issues, supporting security partners and ensuring compliance with restricted area access procedures.
  • Manage communications with passengers and stakeholders during disruptions, preparing situational updates, coordinating passenger assistance services and maintaining a customer-centric approach.
  • Coordinate fuel delivery and refuelling operations, ensuring fueling safety protocols, timely access to hydrant systems or fuel bowsers, and reconciliation with airlines.
  • Oversee equipment availability and maintenance scheduling (ground power units, stairs, tugs, belt loaders), coordinating repairs or replacements to avoid operational bottlenecks.
  • Train, mentor and provide on-the-job coaching for junior operations staff, assisting with onboarding, SOP adherence, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Secondary Functions

  • Support cross-functional process improvement projects that reduce turnaround time and operational cost while improving passenger experience.
  • Develop and maintain contingency plans and business continuity procedures for severe weather, airside incidents, or system outages.
  • Prepare operational handover reports and shift summaries for management and next-shift teams to ensure continuity and reduce information gaps.
  • Participate in airside safety audits and incident investigations, compiling findings, root cause analysis and follow-up action plans.
  • Assist in scheduling staff rotas, coordinating shift swaps and ensuring adequate staffing levels for peak and irregular operations.
  • Support airport noise and environmental monitoring activities, coordinating with environmental teams on operational mitigations.
  • Contribute to procurement requests for ground support equipment and operational supplies, providing technical specifications and operational impact assessments.
  • Assist with stakeholder contract performance reviews and SLA monitoring for ground handlers, fueling services, and security providers.
  • Coordinate training sessions and drills for emergency response, evacuation, and airside safety to keep staff readiness high.
  • Maintain operational records of dangerous goods handling, liaising with DGCO/DGR officers to ensure compliant acceptance and transfer processes.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Airport operations coordination and shift duty management
  • Ramp and apron operations knowledge (aircraft marshaling, pushback/tow procedures)
  • Ground handling and baggage operations management
  • Airfield safety regulations and Safety Management Systems (SMS)
  • IATA and/or ICAO operational standards, and local aviation regulatory compliance (e.g., FAA, EASA as applicable)
  • NOTAM interpretation, slot coordination, and basic flight planning liaison
  • Tactical use of Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE) and Airport Operational Databases (AODB) or Operations Control Systems
  • Experience with resource planning tools, ops dashboards, and real-time flight monitoring platforms
  • Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) awareness and coordination with DGCO
  • Incident reporting, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation
  • Airside driving permit and experience operating in controlled airside environments
  • Familiarity with de-icing procedures, fueling operations, and contractor permit systems

Soft Skills

  • Strong situational awareness and calm decision-making under pressure
  • Excellent verbal and written communication for multi-stakeholder coordination
  • Customer service orientation and empathy during passenger disruption scenarios
  • Leadership presence for directing cross-functional on-shift teams
  • Problem solving and agile prioritization during irregular operations (IROPS)
  • Attention to detail for compliance, safety checks, and documentation
  • Collaboration and influencing skills to work with airlines, ATC, security and contractors
  • Adaptability to rotating shifts, nights, weekends and rapid schedule changes
  • Time management and multitasking with competing operational priorities
  • Continuous improvement mindset and data-driven operational thinking

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent with aviation-related coursework or certifications preferred.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Aviation Management, Airport Operations, Logistics, Business Administration, or related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Aviation / Airport Management
  • Logistics and Supply Chain
  • Business Administration
  • Transportation Management
  • Emergency Management / Safety

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years in airport or airline operations; ramp/ground handling or airline customer operations experience strongly preferred.

Preferred:

  • 3+ years coordinating airport operations, serving as duty officer, or supervising ramp/ground handling teams.
  • Proven experience with IROPS management, incident response, or operational control center environments.
  • Certifications and training such as IATA DGR Awareness, Airside Driving Permit, First Aid/CPR, and SMS training are highly desirable.
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