MANAGER - AVIATION BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Gulf Air; Bahrain; On-site; BHD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Gulf Air in Bahrain seeks a Manager Aviation Business Development to support strategic growth, expand the airline portfolio and strengthen partnerships.

You will identify opportunities, develop business cases, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance connectivity and revenue through informed market insights.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Aviation Management, Economics, Marketing or related field.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• A minimum of 6 years of experience in aviation business development, airport management, airline relations or related aviation sectors.
• Experience working with airports, airlines, aviation consulting firms or aviation authorities is preferred.
• Strong understanding of airport and airline business models.
• Knowledge of route development principles and aviation market dynamics.
• Excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Strong stakeholder management and negotiation capabilities.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Support the Director in executing aviation business development strategies aligned with airport growth objectives and commercial plans.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to expand the airline portfolio, route network and overall connectivity.
• Translate market insights and forecasts into actionable airline development strategies.
• Support annual business planning and long-term aviation growth initiatives in coordination with Market Research and Finance.
• Monitor industry trends, airline strategies and competitive developments to inform commercial positioning.
• Lead initiatives to attract new airlines, destinations, frequencies and improved connectivity, while retaining existing airlines.
• Prepare airline value propositions, commercial presentations and route development narratives.
• Lead development of business cases using Market Research & Analysis data modelling and forecasting inputs.
• Assess airline requirements and structure incentive proposals in coordination with internal stakeholders.
• Monitor route performance from a commercial perspective and implement actions to improve retention and sustainability.
• Build and maintain relationships with airlines, alliance groups, authorities and industry partners.
• Represent the airport at airline meetings, industry conferences and route development events.
• Promote the airport’s value proposition through presentations and airline engagements.
• Drive opportunities to improve aviation business development processes and performance.

Skills

Airline relations

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Project management

Market research

Excel

PowerPoint

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

JOB PURPOSE

The Manager Aviation Business Development will support the Director to drive strategic growth initiatives to expand aviation-related business opportunities strengthen the airport s route network attract and retain airline partnerships and enhance the airports commercial aviation positioning The role focuses on identifying growth opportunities supporting airline engagement and contributing to long-term airport traffic and revenue objectives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Aviation Business Development amp Strategy

• Support the Director in executing aviation business development strategies aligned with airport growth objectives and commercial plans
• Identify and pursue opportunities to expand the airline portfolio route network and overall connectivity
• Translate market insights and forecasts into actionable airline development strategies
• Support annual business planning and long-term aviation growth initiatives in coordination with Market Research and Finance
• Monitor industry trends airline strategies and competitive developments to inform commercial positioning

Airline amp Route Development

• Support the director in leading initiatives to attract new airlines destinations additional frequencies and improved connectivity in addition to retention of existing airlines and service enhancement
• Prepare airline value propositions commercial presentations and route development narratives
• Lead development of business cases in collaboration with Market Research amp Analysis utilizing the data modelling and forecasting inputs
• Assess airline requirements and structure incentive proposals in coordination with relevant internal stakeholders
• Monitor route performance from a commercial perspective and implement actions to improve retention performance and sustainability

Airline amp Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with airlines alliance groups aviation authorities tourism bodies government entities and industry partners
• Conduct regular airline performance assessments and propose ways to improve performance
• Act as the primary commercial point of contact for assigned airline accounts
• Lead airline engagement relationship management and commercial discussions
• Support negotiations on commercial agreements incentives and route development opportunities
• Conduct regular airline reviews to strengthen partnerships and support long-term retention

Commercial Performance amp Business Delivery

• Drive achievement of passenger growth connectivity and airline engagement targets
• Identify commercial opportunities to enhance airline performance and route sustainability
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to resolve airline-related commercial issues and improve overall performance
• Track route outcomes from a commercial delivery perspective and initiate corrective or growth actions where required

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Operations Commercial Marketing Finance and other airport departments to deliver aviation growth initiatives
• Coordinate airline launches schedule changes and route activation activities
• Ensure alignment between airline requirements and airport operational readiness
• Utilize market intelligence and forecasts provided by the Market Research amp Analysis function to support decision-making and airline discussions

Industry Engagement

• Represent the airport at airline meetings industry conferences and route development events
• Promote the airport s value proposition through presentations and engagement with airlines and strategic partners
• Identify opportunities to improve aviation business development processes and commercial performance

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor s degree in Business Administration Aviation Management Economics Marketing or related field
• Master s degree preferred
• A minimum of 6 years of experience in aviation business development airport management airline relations or related aviation sectors
• Experience working with airports airlines aviation consulting firms or aviation authorities is preferred
• Strong understanding of airport and airline business models
• Knowledge of route development principles and aviation market dynamics
• Excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills
• Strong stakeholder management and negotiation capabilities
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines