Duty Airport Manager LHR

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

Qantas is seeking a Duty Airport Manager to lead London Heathrow operations in a full-time onsite role. You will run day-to-day international flight operations, guide frontline teams, and drive safety, customer experience, on-time performance and financial results in a 24/7, highly regulated setting, with after-hours accountability and regular engagement with airport, government, security and airline stakeholders while optimizing safety, service delivery and costs. The ideal candidate has operational management experience in aviation or a similar safety-critical industry, plus strong leadership, stakeholder management, communication and analytical skills, and a track record of driving change and KPIs. Tips for applicants: tailor your CV to quantify outcomes, show budget control and cost management, prove UK work rights, apply before August 4 2026, and highlight shift flexibility and familiarity with Heathrow.

Company Description

Founded in the Queensland outback in 1920, Qantas has grown to be Australia’s largest regional, domestic, and international airline. Qantas has a range of subsidiary businesses that support the overall operations of the Group. The Qantas Group’s main business is the transportation of customers and freight using two complementary airline brands — Qantas and Jetstar — operating regional, domestic, and international services.

Job Description

• Lead airport operations at one of Qantas' most important international gateways
• Manage complex operational challenges while leading and developing high-performing teams
• Full time permanent position based at Heathrow, London

Our offshore ports each have a personality of their own. When you’re part of the offshore Qantas family, you might be physically apart but you’re still a close part of our team.

As Duty Airport Manager, London, you will lead the day-to-day airport operation, ensuring the safe, efficient and customer-focused delivery of international flight operations. You will provide leadership to frontline teams, manage operational disruption and drive performance outcomes across safety, customer experience, on-time performance and financial objectives.

This role is responsible for managing airport operations through the optimisation of safety, customer service delivery, operational performance and financial controls. You will provide effective leadership across the London operation, including after-hours responsibility for Qantas operations in a complex and highly regulated environment.

Working at one of Qantas' most significant international ports, you will engage with a broad range of airport, government, security and airline stakeholders while ensuring operational excellence across all aspects of airport performance.

 This role operates in a 24/7 airport environment and requires flexibility to support operational requirements, including shift work, weekends, public holidays and after-hours operational accountability as required.

What you’ll bring to the role:

• Operational management experience within aviation or a similarly complex, safety-critical industry.
• Highly developed people leadership skills, including performance management, coaching, mentoring and team development.
• Strong customer focus with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with a proven ability to deliver results in time-critical environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Commercial acumen with experience managing operational costs and budgets.
• Demonstrated ability to drive performance against key operational and commercial KPIs.
• Proven experience leading change and implementing continuous improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrated commitment to workplace health, safety and compliance.
• Ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced, constantly changing operational environment.
• High standard of personal presentation and professional conduct. 

Why Qantas?  

You’ll join a team where creativity and passion are encouraged. Our people come together to allow us to dream big and deliver successfully. 

Qantas offers great benefits that extend well beyond travel  

• Love to travel?  Enjoy heavily discounted air travel from the UK to Australia, within Australia and across the globe for you and your family or friends, as well as exclusive deals on accommodation and holidays. 
• We’ll support your wellbeing:  You'll have access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), providing free and confidential support, guidance and counselling services.  You’ll be eligible for private medical insurance providing access to prompt diagnosis and treatment through an extensive network of healthcare specialists and facilities.  In addition, our health cash plan helps reimburse the cost of everyday healthcare expenses such as eye tests, dental check up’s and other health-related services.
• Want to develop your skills?  We’ve got you covered.  You’ll be supported from day 1 with on the job training and coaching and we’ve got great learning and development opportunities available including our online learning hub, Academy Q.  While you may start in this role, we’ve got a track record of supporting our people to take their career in any number of different directions. 

Qantas provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, colour, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. 

If you’re ready to step into a culture that will challenge and excite you, submit an application and let’s explore how we go places together. 

Please note, we will only consider applicants that currently have full work rights for the United Kingdom. 

Applications close: Tuesday 4 August 2026.