OTA Manager

Air Arabia Group; Sharjah; On-site; AED 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Air Arabia Group seeks a senior OTA Partnerships Manager to steer distribution strategy across markets from its UAE base. You will lead the OTA team, drive revenue targets, and nurture relationships with major OTA partners and airlines.

Role involves coordinating OTA/API integration, ensuring operational effectiveness, and collaborating with Finance, Marketing and RevOps to maximize API channel performance.

Qualifications

• Minimum bachelor’s in Commerce/Business Management or related field.
• 7+ years in aviation with at least 2 years leading a team.
• Knowledge of Airline systems and OTA systems requirements.
• Experience developing market strategies and partnerships.
• Strong analytical, negotiation and communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Define multi-hub OTA strategy and market approach across regions.
• Lead OTA team to achieve regional OTA/API budgets and revenue targets.
• Represent Air Arabia in OTA events and conferences to strengthen relationships.
• Oversee OTA/API integration and ensure solutions meet requirements.
• Collaborate with Finance, Marketing, Revenue and Support to boost API channel performance.

Skills

OTA management

Leadership

Negotiation

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s in Commerce/Business Management

Tools

OTA/API integration

Airline systems knowledge

Job description

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Responsible for developing & driving strategies for working with OTAs and improving the distribution capabilities across all markets. To increase the revenue and develop the market share of the OTA channels by having strong relationship with OTAs and to ensure favorable terms for all the airline companies within Air Arabia Group.

• Defines the multi-hub strategy, action plan, and market approach of the OTA business across all the regions and provides necessary guidance and support to the OTAs globally for all our Hubs/Airlines.
• Leads the OTA team to achieve their regions OTA /API channel budgets and the targeted revenue for all Air Arabia Group in line with the agreed business objectives.
• Representing Air Arabia in Online Distribution Events /Global conferences to builds effective relationships with key decision makers within the portfolio of OTAs/Airlines and uses every opportunity to maintain existing accounts and source new ones, as well, to enhance the company’s brand presence on the online portals and websites.
• Oversees the OTA/API integration process and partners with stakeholders to ensure that solutions and services supplied meet requirements.
• Ensures the team is channeling the information to and from Online Travel Agents of all accounts across the regions and for their adherence to agreed policies and procedures.
• Monitors the technical efficiency/ challenges and bugs of the OTA customers’ online engines to enable their competitiveness and functionality and to supply them with relevant support.
• Implements and runs a pro-active and effective OTA accounts management process and communication structure to ensure commercial objectives are fully understood and targets are met and exceeded with clients.
• Preparing and presenting regular reports to the Executive team for each Hub/Airline highlighting the OTA performance and proposing future action plans for improvement.
• Advises management on new OTA opportunities, negotiates and vetting contracts, modules and products to ensure best practice is applied and maximum benefit is achieved from the agreements signed with agencies and vendors.
• Handling and resolving any escalated issues or disputes with OTAs promptly and efficiently to ensure high level of customer satisfaction.
• Collaborating with various departments, including Finance, Marketing, Revenue and Support teams to enhance overall performance and improve revenue on the API channel.
• Analysing and identifying trends and opportunities in newer markets to increase distribution capabilities targeting B2B ,B2C, consolidators, technology providers and all other relevant online platforms for all our Hubs.
• Provides direction, coaching & guidance to team members for their career & professional Development.
• Create a conducive working environment to build and sustain a performance driven, engaged, and committed team.
• Manages performance of direct reports through objective setting, continuous support, feedback, and formal reviews to ensure business objectives are met; Ensures conflict management, grievances handling, disciplinary issues are handled effectively in line with company procedures.

Key Result Responsibilities

Qualifications (Academic, training, languages)

Minimum bachelor’s in Commerce/Business Management or any other relevant field.

Work Experience

7+ years of extensive working experience in a similar role in the aviation industry of which minimum 2 years' experience supervising/ managing a team.

Knowledge of Airline systems and OTA systems requirements and operations.

Knowledge of business plans, policies, and procedures, setting targets and monitoring performance

Understanding of market trends and financial data and managing them leading to profitable initiatives in revenue management and pricing.

Management reporting, preparing comparison sheets and charts.

Analytical and communication skills (verbal and written).

Identifying pitfalls and recommending cost-effective solutions.

Cost-oriented, possesses effective persuasive, negotiation, problem solving and decision making skills.