Flight dispatcher

Flight dispatchers are responsible for making sure flights take off on time and that all health and safety regulations have been met.

Also known as:

Aircraft dispatcher
Aircraft operations manager

Work activities

Flight dispatchers are in charge of making sure all flights are made ready for take-off as quickly and safely as possible. There are many things that need to be checked by the dispatcher before an aircraft can take off. Questions they might ask include:

What are the weather conditions?
Is the fuel load adequate?
Has the baggage been loaded?
Has the aircraft been cleaned?

They also need to ensure the following roles are covered across the flights they are responsible for:

Baggage handlers.
Air traffic workers.
Catering and cleaning staff.
Cabin crew.
Pilot and co-pilot.

Flight dispatchers are often responsible for finding the most economic route for an aircraft to take. For this, they need knowledge of all the possible routes to a chosen destination. Up-to-date information on weather conditions is also needed to ensure the best routes are chosen. Dispatchers work a lot with two-way radios, but they also need to move around the airport and deal with people face to face.

Personal qualities and skills

To do this job well, you’ll need:

Excellent communication and people skills.
The ability to stay calm under pressure.
Good planning skills.
To be someone who can multi-task.
A good level of health and safety knowledge for this industry.
IT skills.
Knowledge of the aviation industry.

This work can involve being on your feet quite a lot, so you’ll need to be reasonably fit. Some ability in a foreign language would be useful. Some flight dispatchers have to wear a uniform.

The following future skills shortages have been identified:

Customer service skills.
Communication skills.
IT skills.
Safety/accident management skills.

Pay and opportunities

According to job site Glassdoor, flight dispatchers can expect to earn between £21,000 and £30,000 (54 salaries, December 2023).

Flight dispatchers usually work a full-time week. Shift and weekend work are common.

Demand is steady but competition for places is strong as this is a popular industry to enter.

You’ll be employed directly by an airline or by a handling agent for the airline and you’ll work at one of the UK’s airports. There are opportunities to work abroad for experienced flight dispatchers.

What’s happening in this work area?

The aviation industry throughout the UK is currently facing a major overhaul, with a range of new policies aimed at developing a more sustainable approach to air travel coming into effect. There is increasing pressure to reduce the CO2 emissions generated by transport and the industry will require suitably qualified and skilled professionals.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on all the major job boards, on the Government’s Find a Job service. Vacancies may also be advertised on airline and handling agent websites.

Entry routes and training

A good way into this career is via a level 4 (higher) apprenticeship in the role of aviation operations manager.

People often enter this career following work in another aviation job. For example, they could have worked as customer service agents or senior baggage handlers. City & Guilds runs various courses for people interested in this career. Leisure and tourism qualifications will also be useful for entry to this career.

A lot of your training as a flight dispatcher will be on-the-job. This will cover things such as aviation regulations, flight planning procedures and awareness of the IT systems used in this industry.

Some people start in assistant roles before working towards roles with more responsibility. Progress within the career is usually to senior roles with supervisory responsibilities. Further progress could take you to flight operations manager positions.

Qualifications

Entry requirements for this job vary between employers. Experience working in the aviation industry is often more important than academic qualifications. However, it’s always useful have some GCSEs (or equivalent) in subjects like:

English.
Leisure and tourism.
Maths.

The ability to speak a foreign language, especially French, Spanish or German would be useful for people wanting to get into this career. Some positions require that you have a flight dispatcher’s licence.

To start a higher apprenticeship, you’ll need two A-levels.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: it is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

This is often a second career for people who’ve worked in the aviation industry. Experience of working in a customer service role would also be useful.

Related careers

Air traffic controller
Air traffic services assistant
Airline customer service agent
Airport baggage handler
Airport information assistant
Customer services manager
Flight attendant
Freight forwarder