Air Department Manager

Mayflower-Cruises-; Lisle (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Mayflower Cruises & Tours, a premier escorted tour operator, is seeking an experienced Air Operations Leader to oversee the Air Department from our Lisle, Illinois office.

You will lead a team of Air Coordinators, manage all domestic and international air operations, and serve as the primary liaison with Sabre and Amadeus while ensuring compliance with airline policies and ARC reporting.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years in airline reservations, ticketing, or travel operations; leadership preferred.
• Proficiency in Sabre GDS is required; Amadeus preferred.
• Strong knowledge of domestic and international airfare rules.
• Experience managing group air bookings and contracts is desirable.
• Working knowledge of ARC reporting and travel industry regulations.
• Proficiency in Outlook/Excel/Word.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coach the Air Department team to ensure efficient daily operations.
• Manage group air contracts.
• Oversee booking, ticketing, reissuance, exchanges, refunds, and cancellations.
• Serve as liaison with Sabre and Amadeus for GDS functionality.
• Prepare and submit weekly ARC reports; ensure ARC compliance.
• Coordinate airline seat assignments, upgrades, and special requests.
• Partner with Sales, Operations, and Customer Service on schedules and traveler updates.
• Monitor air pricing, schedules, and airline policies for optimization.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations and company procedures.
• Identify workflow improvements to boost productivity and customer experience.

Skills

Leadership experience

Customer service

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Tools

Sabre GDS

Amadeus GDS

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Lead Air Operations for a Global Travel Company

Mayflower Cruises & Tours, a premier escorted tour operator and division of Scenic Group, is seeking an experienced Air Department Manager to oversee our Air Department from our Lisle, Illinois office.

Reporting directly to the Vice President of Operations, you will lead a team of Air Coordinators while managing all aspects of domestic and international air operations. This role is ideal for a travel professional with strong airline ticketing expertise, GDS proficiency, and a passion for delivering exceptional service to travelers.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and support the Air Department team to ensure efficient daily operations and exceptional customer service.
• Manage group air contracts.
• Oversee the booking, ticketing, reissuance, exchanges, refunds, and cancellations for domestic and international travel.
• Serve as the primary liaison with Sabre and Amadeus regarding GDS functionality, troubleshooting, and system enhancements.
• Prepare and submit weekly ARC reports while ensuring compliance with ARC regulations and airline policies.
• Coordinate airline seat assignments, upgrades, and special service requests.
• Partner closely with Sales, Operations, and Customer Service teams to communicate flight schedules, itinerary updates, and traveler requests.
• Monitor air pricing, schedule changes, and airline policies to optimize travel arrangements and operational efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations, company procedures, and quality standards.
• Identify opportunities to improve workflows, increase productivity, and enhance the customer experience.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in airline reservations, ticketing, or travel operations, with prior leadership or supervisory experience preferred.
• Proficiency in Sabre GDS is required.
• Experience with Amadeus GDS is preferred; training can be provided.
• Strong knowledge of domestic and international airfare construction, ticketing, exchanges, refunds, reissues, and airline fare rules.
• Experience managing group air bookings and contracts is highly desirable.
• Working knowledge of ARC reporting and travel industry regulations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Excel, and Word.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative travel environment while managing multiple priorities.