Planners, airlines

What does an airline planner do? – Tasks and work environment

An airline planner is responsible for coordinating and optimizing flight routes, scheduling crews, and allocating resources to ensure efficient operations. Tasks include analyzing traffic flows, handling unforeseen events, and communicating with various departments to minimize delays and costs. The work environment is often office-based with a high tempo and requires the ability to handle stress and make quick decisions in a dynamic industry.

Salary development over time

The salary for an airline planner has shown steady growth over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 37,100 SEK per month, increasing to 39 000 SEK in 2023 and further to 40 200 SEK in 2024. This represents a total salary increase of approximately 8.4 percent during the period. This development reflects the industry's increased demand for efficient planning and the overall economic recovery after the pandemic's impact. Increased complexity in air traffic and sustainability demands may also have contributed to higher valuation of competent planners in the job market. This positive trend is expected to continue as airlines strive for improved cost efficiency and customer service.

Airline planner salary – complete overview

• Average salary: 40 200 SEK/month
• Lowest salary: 37,400 SEK (female, private sector, high school education)
• Highest salary: 42,400 SEK (male, public sector, post-secondary education 3+ years)
• Hourly wage: 242 SEK (based on 166 working hours/month)
• Gender differences: Women earn 94 % of men's salaries
• Regional differences: Salary levels may vary between metropolitan areas and smaller towns, often higher in larger airports

Education and qualifications

The educational path to becoming an airline planner often includes post-secondary studies in logistics, transportation, or similar fields. Practical experience combined with specialized courses in airline planning and systems is common. The ability to quickly learn new IT tools and understand complex data flows are important qualifications.

• Post-secondary education: 2–3 years in logistics, transportation, or airline management
• Certifications: Courses in flight route optimization and scheduling systems
• Internship/Trainee: Experience from airlines or transport companies is advantageous
• Prerequisites: Good knowledge of mathematics and IT
• Tips for choosing: Select education focused on transportation logistics and digital planning tools

Common benefits and compensations

Airline planners are often offered benefits such as occupational pension, wellness allowance, and flexible working hours. Travel and overtime pay may be available depending on the employer and shift work. Some companies also offer training opportunities and career development within the organization.

Competition and challenges

The profession of airline planner is competitive but with stable demand, especially at larger airports. Challenges include managing unforeseen disruptions in air traffic and balancing cost efficiency with customer satisfaction. Digitalization and automation are changing working methods, requiring continuous skills development. Stress resilience and the ability to work under pressure are crucial for success.

Tips for aspiring airline planners

To succeed as an airline planner, it’s beneficial to have a structured and analytical work style combined with good communication skills. Precision facilitates planning complex schedules and routes, while flexibility helps adapt quickly to changes. Developing technical skills in relevant IT systems and gaining experience through internships or trainee programs are important. Being solution-oriented and stress-resistant makes it easier to handle unexpected problems. Finally, networking within the industry can open doors to new opportunities and support career growth.

Key facts about airline planners

• Education level: Post-secondary education 2–3 years in transportation/logistics
• Salary range: 37,400–42,400 SEK/month
• Work environment: Office-based, high tempo and stress
• Work form: Full-time, shift work often occurs
• Demand: Moderate opportunities, forecast unchanged

Career paths and future prospects

After 3–5 years as an airline planner, there are opportunities to advance to roles such as operations manager, traffic controller, or specialist in logistics and planning. The employment agency's forecast shows that the demand for transportation managers and coordinators is moderate and expected to remain unchanged over five years, indicating stable career opportunities. Digitalization and a focus on sustainability may create new specializations and expertise needs within the industry. There are approximately 412 job openings nationally in this profession, indicating good availability of positions.

Common questions about airline planners

• What is the average salary of an airline planner?
  - The average salary is approximately 40 200 SEK per month.
• What education is required to become an airline planner?
  - Usually, post-secondary education in transportation, logistics, or related fields is required.
• Are there significant gender differences in salary?
  - Yes, women earn on average 94 percent of men's salaries.
• What is the work environment like for an airline planner?
  - The work environment is office-based with a high tempo and stress.
• Is it difficult to get a job as an airline planner?
  - The recruitment situation is balanced with moderate job opportunities.
• What personal qualities are important?
  - Analytical skills, accuracy, flexibility, and stress resilience are important qualities.
• How much does an airline planner earn per hour?
  - The hourly wage averages around 242 SEK.