Airline Partners Manager

Aer Lingus Group; Dublin; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Aer Lingus seeks an Airline Partners Manager to drive a portfolio of global airline partnerships, optimise profitability, and ensure contractual compliance. You will lead complex negotiations, manage large cross-functional teams, and shape partnership strategies that expand Aer Lingus’s network and revenue growth.

The role requires strong commercial insight, cross-cultural collaboration, and the ability to influence at executive levels, with a focus on delivering sustainable value for the

Qualifications

• Experience delivering a portfolio of large/complex airline partnerships.
• Proven track record in managing multi-stakeholder collaborations.
• Strong numerical and commercial analysis skills for decision making.
• Ability to influence at executive levels and across cultures.
• Experience negotiating with third parties and suppliers.
• Programme/portfolio management or long-term planning experience.
• Strong understanding of airline industry dynamics and Aer Lingus strategy.

Responsibilities

• Lead or support development and management of Aer Lingus partnership strategy.
• Maintain partner relationships including contractual compliance and disputes.
• Lead complex commercial negotiations with existing and potential partners.
• Deliver airline partner projects ensuring solutions meet business objectives.
• Manage large cross-functional project teams across departments.
• Identify improvements to partner processes and performance.
• Analyse partner traffic to inform contract negotiations and decisions.
• Prepare decks for C-level briefings on partnerships.
• Establish relationships with key decision makers in Aer Lingus and partner airlines.
• Manage, track, and update commercial contracts with Aer Lingus Partners (codeshare, prorate, disruption, commissions).

Skills

Partnership management

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Project management

Financial analysis

Cross-cultural communication

English fluent

Education

Degree or equivalent

Job description

The Airline Partners Manager leads a portfolio of global airline partnerships developing and managing strategic relationships with 32 of Aer Lingus’s 37 partner airlines, including key codeshare partners and all interline-only partners. The role is responsible for ensuring that Aer Lingus maximises commercial value, meets its contractual requirements and exploits long-term growth opportunities. Proactively manages partners to optimise profitability, including the selection, scope and detail of commercial arrangements. Success in the role directly influences Aer Lingus' ability to offer more choice to customers, expand its global reach, strengthen Dublin's position as a leading North Atlantic hub, and deliver sustainable revenue growth.

• To support the development of Aer Lingus partnership strategy, ensuring all airline partner developments are consistent with both the Aer Lingus and IAG strategy.
• To maintain partner relationships including contractual compliance and dispute resolution.
• To lead or support complex commercial negotiations with existing and potential partners.
• To lead and deliver airline partner projects and initiatives, ensuring solutions are designed to meet customer needs, effectively controlled and achieves Aer Lingus’s business objectives.
• To manage large cross-functional project teams.
• Identify and implement ways to improve airline partner processes and performance.
• To ensure effective stakeholder engagement throughout the development process.
• Define, instruct, interpret and, when required, undertake analyses of partner traffic to support decisions during new and existing contract negotiations.
• Ad –hoc preparation of decks and briefing papers for C-level on partnerships.
• Establish relationships with key decision makers across Aer Lingus and in partner airlines.
• Manage, track, amend and update commercial contracts with Aer Lingus Partners (such as Special Prorate, Codeshare, Disruption, and Commissions).

Your qualifications and key criteria

To be considered for the role of Airline Partner Manager, candidates must meet the following:

• Degree or equivalent.
• Sound commercial and business understanding.
• Proven record of delivering of a portfolio of large/complex projects.
• Successful management of multiple and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Experience of negotiating with or working with 3rd parties and suppliers.
• Programme management or planning experience.
• Broad understanding of the airline industry.
• Understands how Aer Lingus’s strategy relates to the development of airline partners.
• Analytical and comfortable with financial data. Excellent ability to extract clear and actionable insights, conclusions & actions from data.
• Able to develop, motivate and lead teams, often when not the expert.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills.
• Demonstrates strong influencing and consultation skills.
• Effective stakeholder management to Board level.
• Skilled at working across cultures and organisational hierarchies.
• Effective conflict resolution skills and experience of resolving project risks or conflicts.
• Able to manage conflicting priorities and multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Self-starter, high level of enthusiasm, energy and resilience.
• Draw parallels from outside the airline industry.
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.
• Eligible to live and work in the EU.

Closing Date: 19th October 2026.

At Aer Lingus, we embrace diversity and believe in providing equal opportunities to all qualified individuals. We are dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and respectful work environment that values employees' unique backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We do not discriminate based on race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other protected status. If you have any questions or require any accommodations to support you in your application, please contact us at [e-mail]

Experience of working in an Alliance environment.
Experience of establishing and managing contracts.
Formal negotiation training or experience of contract negotiation and management.

Division / Department

Undefined - Undefined

Contract type

employee recruitment - permanent

Job location

Republic of Ireland, Dublin, Dublin

Vacancy Reference number

005621

About us

At Aer Lingus, we believe in going above and beyond to connect people, places and possibilities. Whether working at the airport, in our offices or at home - every employee has a role to play in making Aer Lingus the heart of travel to, through and beyond Ireland for generations to come.
How do we do this? We Put Safety First. There's nothing more important. We Are Customer Focused. We champion the customer and go above and beyond to get things just right for them. We're Stronger Together. With a ‘how can I help?' attitude, we communicate and collaborate to achieve shared success. We Own It. We do what we say we're going to do and always follow through. We Look Forward. We build the future by embracing change today

What we offer

s well as offering you a competitive salary, career advancement opportunities and staff travel benefits (with Aer Lingus and many other international airlines), you will also have the opportunity to work in a dynamic and collaborative environment and to join a team of amazing professionals who are passionate about the aviation industry. To learn more about the exciting benefits and opportunities that await you at Aer Lingus please visit our website.
At Aer Lingus, we embrace diversity and believe in providing equal opportunities to all qualified individuals. We are dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and respectful work environment that values employees' unique backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We do not discriminate based on race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other protected status. As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage applications from all candidates who share our passion for aviation. If you have any questions or require any accommodations to support you in your application, please contact us at [e-mail].