Manager, Network Planning - India Focus

AirAsia; Sepang; On-site; MYR 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

AirAsia seeks a Network Planning Manager focused on India to lead network development and optimization. The role involves evaluating routes, managing performance, and collaborating with various teams to enhance profitability in a key market. Ideal candidates should have strong analytical skills and experience in aviation.

Benefits

Medical and insurance benefits

Paid time off

Free flights

Flexible work arrangements

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in route/network planning.
• Strong understanding of India's aviation regulatory framework.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and optimisation of network to/from Greater India.
• Evaluate new route opportunities and manage route performance.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Cross-functional Collaboration

Commercial Acumen

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aviation

Postgraduate qualification

Tools

MIDT

Sabre Market Intelligence

OAG

Cirium

Excel

Job description

Job Description

Overview:

• Location: RedQ
• Department: Networking Planning
• Entity: AAAMS
• Status: Full time

Job Description:

YOUR ROLE AS A: Network Planning Manager - India Focus

AirAsia is seeking a highly analytical and commercially minded Network Planning Manager (India Focus) to lead the development and optimisation of our network to/from Greater India. This role is pivotal to AirAsia’s continued expansion and profitability in one of our most strategically important markets. The ideal candidate is of Indian origin with strong cultural and linguistic fluency in Hindi and English, and has a deep understanding of aviation market dynamics, passenger behaviour, and regulatory nuances in the India region. You will evaluate new route opportunities, manage route performance, optimise schedules, and ensure alignment with broader business and operational objectives. This is a hands-on role, requiring cross-functional collaboration with teams across Revenue Management, Regulatory, Government Relations, Airport Partnerships, Finance, and Operations.

What You'll Champion:

• India Market Network Strategy: Identify and evaluate short- and medium-term network opportunities to/from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Maldives. Assess and prioritise new route opportunities, city pairs, and potential frequency increases based on data-driven business cases. Align India network planning with corporate strategy, commercial goals, and fleet deployment priorities.
• Schedule Planning & Optimization: Develop and propose viable flight schedules for new and existing routes in the India market, balancing demand, operational feasibility, and commercial potential. Work with the Scheduling team to ensure optimal aircraft routing, ground time, and turnaround efficiency. Monitor and recommend schedule adjustments based on seasonal demand, events, and market shifts.
• Route Performance & Profitability: Monitor route performance metrics including RASK, CASK, LF, revenue, and yield. Lead root-cause analysis for underperforming routes and implement corrective actions in collaboration with Revenue Management and Scheduling. Develop business cases for aircraft deployment, upgauging/downgauging, or frequency rationalisation.
• Bilateral, Regulatory & Slots Coordination: Work closely with Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations to manage bilateral entitlements, frequency caps, and traffic rights for India routes. Collaborate with Airport Partnerships on slot acquisition, slot swaps, and coordination with slot-constrained Indian airports. Ensure regulatory and slot compliance, and maintain up-to-date tracking of AirAsia’s India slot portfolio.
• Market & Competitor Intelligence: Track competitor movements, pricing shifts, capacity increases, and strategic developments within the Indian aviation market. Analyse tourism trends, business travel patterns, and macroeconomic developments relevant to Indian outbound/inbound traffic. Provide timely recommendations to capitalise on emerging demand and competitive gaps.
• Budget Development & Execution: Support the preparation and execution of the annual India network budget. Align route planning inputs with budget targets, cost assumptions, and commercial forecasts. Monitor actual performance vs. budget and propose tactical route/network adjustments accordingly.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Communication: Serve as the India market planning lead in internal forums, including commercial strategy meetings, CEO budget reviews, and route performance discussions. Represent Network Planning in external engagements with DGCA, airport authorities, tourism boards, and aviation forums relevant to India. Prepare reports, dashboards, and presentations to communicate network strategy, performance, and route decisions.

Who You Are:

• Ethnicity: Must be of Indian origin to effectively engage with stakeholders, authorities, and partners across India.
• Language: Native/Fluent in Hindi and English (spoken and written).
• Minimum 5 years of experience: in route/network planning, strategy, aviation consulting, or related roles in the airline or transport industry.
• Bachelor's degree: in Aviation, Economics, Business, Engineering, or related fields. Postgraduate qualification is a plus.
• Strong analytical skills: with proficiency in tools like MIDT, Sabre Market Intelligence, OAG, Cirium, and Excel.
• Understanding of India’s aviation regulatory framework: including bilateral air services agreements and slot procedures.
• Cross-functional collaboration: ability to influence stakeholders and deliver results under pressure.
• Passion for aviation: with strong commercial acumen and understanding of India’s air travel landscape.

Where You'll Go:

From dispatcher to captain, ramp agent to data analyst, brand executive to CEO - these are some Dare To Dream stories of our Allstars.

What You'll Enjoy:

• Physical Wellbeing: Key medical and insurance benefits, maternity expenses, flexible work arrangements, and health and fitness amenities.
• Emotional Wellbeing: Paid time off, wellness programmes, and childcare amenities.
• Financial Wellbeing: Resources relating to financial, personal skills, and career growth programmes.
• Allstars Specials: Free flights, unlimited discounted flights, and exclusive discounts with partners.
• Our Culture: A unique Allstar culture that celebrates diversity and individuality.

Our Hiring Process:

• Application received
• Candidate screening
• Interview(s) and assessment(s)
• Background check and/or other assessments
• Offer and negotiation

Get to Know AirAsia:

AirAsia has been the World's Best Low-Cost Airline for 14 consecutive years with over 800 million guests flown. We champion dreams, serve the underserved, and connect the world and ASEAN so everyone can fly.

Our Story:

Founded in 2001, we started with two planes and a debt of 40 million ringgit. Today, we are Capital A, a brand that connects people and transforms lives across ASEAN. We believe in dreaming big and celebrating diversity. Join us and be part of our journey.

We are committed to creating a diverse work environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.