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Director Airline Network Planning Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Stem Xpert

Sr network planning engineer

Fort Worth, TX · On-site

$99K - $136K/yr

Phone+F2F (Or Direct FTF) interview Qualification Must Have o Excellent Written and Oral ... Nice to Have o Airlines - The Senior Network Planning Engineer is responsible for supporting IT ...

JCSI

Director of Transportation

Des Plaines, IL

$170K - $180K/yr

Director of Transportation & Fleet Operations -- Airline Catering Location: Our Chicago Hub is ... airline network. This role requires a leader who splits time between strategic planning and being ...

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Director Airline Network Planning information

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$53.5K

$122.2K

$189K

How much do director airline network planning jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for director airline network planning in the United States is $122,204.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $98,000.00 and $144,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a director of airline network planning do?

A Director of Airline Network Planning is responsible for developing and optimizing an airline's flight network. This includes deciding which routes the airline should operate, how frequently flights should run, and which aircraft to deploy on each route. They analyze market trends, passenger demand, and competitor activity to maximize profitability and efficiency. Their work directly impacts the airline’s revenue and customer reach. This role requires strong analytical, strategic, and leadership skills.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director of airline network planning, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of Airline Network Planning, you need expertise in route analysis, demand forecasting, and strategic planning, usually backed by a degree in business, aviation management, or a similar field. Proficiency in network planning software, revenue management systems, and advanced Excel or data analytics tools is crucial. Strong leadership, analytical thinking, and effective communication skills help drive collaboration across departments and support data-driven decisions. These skills ensure optimal route profitability, market competitiveness, and the airline’s long-term growth.

What are some common challenges a director of airline network planning faces when optimizing route networks?

A Director of Airline Network Planning often encounters challenges such as balancing profitability with market demand, adapting to fluctuating fuel prices, and responding quickly to competitive moves in the industry. The role requires careful analysis of passenger trends, coordination with operations and marketing teams, and continuous adjustment of schedules to maximize fleet utilization. Additionally, regulatory restrictions and slot availability at key airports can limit flexibility, making strategic decision-making and scenario planning essential parts of the job.

What is the difference between Director Airline Network Planning vs Network Planning Analyst?

AspectDirector Airline Network PlanningNetwork Planning Analyst
CredentialsBachelor's degree, often advanced in aviation, business, or related fields; extensive industry experienceBachelor's degree, often in aviation, logistics, or related fields; entry to mid-level experience
Work EnvironmentStrategic planning teams, senior management, cross-department collaborationData analysis, modeling, supporting planning teams, reporting
Employer & Industry UsageAirlines, aviation companies, industry consultantsAirlines, airports, aviation consulting firms

The main difference is that the Director Airline Network Planning oversees strategic network development and makes high-level decisions, while the Network Planning Analyst supports these efforts through data analysis and modeling. The director has more experience, leadership responsibilities, and a broader scope, whereas the analyst focuses on detailed data work to inform planning strategies.

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Director Airline Network Planning jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Airline Network Planning job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 86% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $122,204 per year, or $58.8 per hour.

Network Planning Operational Research Expert

Amadeus

Irving, TX • Hybrid

$99K - $136K/yr

Full-time

Medical, PTO

Re-posted 20 days ago

Job description

Job Title

Network Planning Operational Research Expert

Position Summary:

This role is a Senior Expert Individual Contributor within the Technical Expert career pathway. The position defines and drives enterpriselevel airline network optimization strategy, ensuring solutions are scalable, trusted, and applicable at full airline network scale.

The role has material impact on Amadeus products, airline customer outcomes, and revenue, by shaping how airline planning problems are framed, optimized, and operationalized. The incumbent acts as a recognized authority in airline network planning optimization and contributes to knowledge sharing and technical leadership across Operations Research, Product, and Engineering teams.

Scope & Impact

  • Operates at enterprise / airlinewide scale, influencing strategic and operational decisionmaking
  • Influences product strategy and roadmap through deep OR and airline domain expertise
  • Impacts airline profitability, robustness, and operational performance
  • Recognized internally and externally as a subjectmatter expert in airline network optimization
  • No direct people management responsibility; influence is exercised through technical authority and thought leadership

In this role you'll:

Airline Network Optimization Leadership

  • Define and own optimization strategy for airline network planning at fullnetwork scale
  • Translate airline business objectives (profitability, growth, robustness, recoverability) into scalable optimization approaches
  • Challenge airline planning assumptions and influence how planners and stakeholders think about network tradeoffs
  • Ensure solutions are explainable, trusted, and operationally usable by airline customers

Advanced OR & Algorithmic Strategy

  • Drive algorithmic strategy, not just model implementation
  • Design and evolve largescale optimization approaches covering:
  • Network & schedule design
  • Fleet assignment and aircraft routing
  • Connectivity, alliance, and codeshare constraints
  • Lead the selection of appropriate techniques, including:
  • LP, MIP, and network flow models
  • Decomposition approaches
  • Hybrid exact + heuristic solutions for timecritical planning
  • Define pragmatic approximations when exact optimization is not viable, without sacrificing business value

Knowledge Sharing & Technical Influence

  • Act as a technical reference point for airline network planning optimization
  • Share expertise across OR, Product, and Engineering teams
  • Contribute to best practices, architectural decisions, and longterm technical vision

About the Ideal Candidate:

Education & Experience

  • PhD or MSc (or equivalent) in Operations Research, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related discipline
  • Minimum 10 years of experience in a relevant role, with strong exposure to airline network planning or largescale transportation optimization
  • Senior Individual Contributor mindset with demonstrated enterpriselevel impact

Required Technical Expertise (NonNegotiable)

Airline Network Planning

Recognized expertise across:

  • Full airline network & schedule design
  • Fleet assignment, aircraft routing, and connectivity modeling
  • Alliance and codeshare constraints
  • Profitability, robustness, and operational tradeoffs
  • Strong understanding of how network planning decisions directly impact airline P&L, beyond mathematical optimality.

Operations Research & Optimization

Expertlevel mastery of:

  • Linear Programming (LP)
  • MixedInteger Programming (MIP)
  • Network flow models at industrial scale
  • Proven ability to judge when not to apply MIP and select effective alternatives
  • Experience designing scalable, productionready optimization systems

Core Competencies

  • Expertise & Thought Leadership - Recognized authority in a critical technical domain
  • Strategic Thinking - Connects technical decisions to longterm business outcomes
  • Influence without Authority - Shapes decisions across teams through expertise
  • Customer Focus - Deep understanding of airline customer needs and operational realities

What we can offer you:

  • Get rewarded with competitive remuneration, individual and company annual bonus, vacation and holiday paid time off, health insurances and other competitive benefits.
  • Work hybrid.
  • Professional development to broaden yourknowledge and enhance your skillswith on-line learning hubs packed with technical and soft skills training that allow you to develop and grow.
  • Enter a diverse and inclusive workplace, join one of the world's top travel technology companies and take on a role that impacts millions of travelers around the globe.
Working at Amadeus, you will find:

🎯 A critical mission and purpose - At Amadeus, you will be powering the future of travel and pursuing a critical mission and extraordinary purpose.

🌎 A truly global DNA - Everything at Amadeus is global, from our people to our business, which translates into our footprint, processes, and culture.

🎓 Great opportunities to learn - Learning happens all the time and in many ways at Amadeus, through on-the-job training, formal learning activities, and day-to-day interactions with colleagues.

🤗 A caring environment - Amadeus fosters a caring environment, nurturing both a fulfilling career and personal and family life. We care about our employees and strive to provide a supportive work environment.

💰 A complete rewards offer - Amadeus provides attractive remuneration packages, covering all essential components of a competitive reward offer, including salary, bonus, equity, and benefits.

🌈 A diverse and inclusive community - We are committed to leveraging our uniquely diverse population to drive innovation, creativity, and collaboration across our organization.

📈 A Reliable Company - Trust and reliability are fundamental values that drive our actions and shape long-lasting relationships with our customers, partners, and employees.

Application process:

The application process takes no longer than 10 minutes! Create your candidate profile, upload your Resume/CV and apply today

#LI-AM2025

Diversity & Inclusion

Amadeus is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition), ancestry, national origin, age, genetic information, military or veterans status, sexual orientation, gender expression, perception, or identity, marital status, mental or physical disability status, or any other protected federal, state, or local status unrelated to performance of work involved.

Amadeus endeavors to make https://jobs.amadeus.com/ accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact us ataccommodations@amadeus.com. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.


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Amadeus Group never charges fees, requests payment, or asks for financial information during recruitment. All legitimate opportunities are communicated solely through official Amadeus channels, including our careers website. Any payment request or outreach via unofficial platforms (e.g., WhatsApp, Telegram) should be treated as fraudulent.

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