Türkiye’s geographical location and the significant advancements in civil aviation in recent years have positioned the country as an important global aviation hub. This rapid growth and transformation have increased the need for highly qualified human resources who not only possess operational knowledge but also demonstrate analytical thinking, make strategic decisions, and produce scientific knowledge. The limited capacity of existing graduate programs to meet this need makes it essential to train individuals specialized at the doctoral level in aviation management.
The aviation sector, due to its high level of regulation, operational complexity, and global competitive structure, requires interdisciplinary knowledge and skills. Today, many professionals working in the sector acquire aviation-specific competencies through practical experience rather than formal education. This situation clearly highlights the need for a standardized, academically grounded, and systematic training program. Indeed, leading global companies such as Boeing and Airbus have established their own training structures to address this need.
A similar need exists in Türkiye. For instance, executive development programs implemented by Turkish Airlines demonstrate that the demand for qualified human resources is recognized at the institutional level. However, such initiatives cannot replace the systematic knowledge production and scientific contribution provided by an academic doctoral program. The absence of a specialized doctoral program in aviation management in a global aviation hub like Istanbul constitutes a significant gap.
In this context, the PhD Program in Air Transport Management aims to provide an interdisciplinary education that directly responds to sectoral needs and is aligned with international standards. The program seeks not only to transmit existing knowledge and practices but also to train scholars and executives who can generate original theoretical knowledge in aviation management, contribute to policy development, and lead sectoral transformation.
In conclusion, establishing the PhD Program in Air Transport Management is a critical necessity to sustain Türkiye’s aviation growth, meet the demand for qualified human resources in the sector, and enhance international competitiveness.
The aim of the PhD Program in Air Transport Management is to train qualified academics and senior executives who possess analytical thinking and strategic decision-making skills, can adopt an interdisciplinary perspective, and are capable of producing original scientific knowledge to meet the increasing needs of the civil aviation sector.
The program aims to meet the demand for highly qualified human resources in the sector, contribute to the academic literature through scientific research, and train experts who can compete at the international level in line with Türkiye’s goal of becoming a global aviation hub.
The program has an interdisciplinary structure integrating the aviation sector with business and management sciences. Within this framework, advanced theoretical and applied education is offered in the following areas:
The program is based not only on the transfer of theoretical knowledge but also on the production of solutions to sectoral needs, practice-based learning, and scientific research. The language of instruction is English and is structured to support international academic and sectoral engagement.
The main objectives of the program are as follows: