• Airlines, Airports and Ambition: Offers a Broader View of Aviation Leadership
  • Beyond the Cockpit: Greek MBA Opens New Horizons for Indian Aviation Professionals
  • Global Learning, Local Careers: Aegean Script in India’s Aviation Story

By Anna Jordy

Frankfurt, Germany. 28 October 2026. More aircraft, more airports and greater connectivity bring a growing need for people who can manage aviation’s complexity. For Indian professionals seeking that expertise while continuing their careers, Greece’s MBA in Air Transport Management—MATBA—offers an international learning opportunity with a practical advantage: predominantly online study, complemented by an introductory teaching week in Chios. Jointly offered by the University of the Aegean and Democritus University of Thrace, the programme combines academic training with industry insight across airlines, airports and air navigation. Programme Administrator Anargyros Ziakas explains how it aims to prepare professionals for the decisions behind every successful flight. As Indian aviation expands, demand continues for professionals who understand airports, airlines and air navigation alike, this could be an appropriate academic route to professional achievements.

Ziakas says the idea took shape more than two decades ago, driven by Dr Kostas Iatrou and Professor Andreas Papatheodorou, who now directs the programme. Greece had lacked a dedicated MBA in air transport management, and MATBA was created to address that need. The first cohort began in February 2026. The programme emphasises connections with the aviation industry alongside academic training, and its team regularly seeks opportunities for professional exchange and practical learning.

India’s aviation community will recognise several names associated with the MATBA Industry Board, coordinated by Dr Iatrou. Among them is Pieter Elbers, former CEO of IndiGo. Asked about changes in aviation executives’ roles, Ziakas explained that the value of an external advisory board lies in its members’ expertise and experience, including that of former senior executives. The board provides industry perspectives and advice rather than making the programme’s formal academic decisions.

The Industry Board brings together experience from across the aviation ecosystem, including Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI Europe; Abdul Wahab Teffaha, Secretary General of the Arab Air Carriers Organization; Glyn Hughes, former Director General of TIACA; Rania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director of Airlines for Europe (A4E); and Mehmet Nane, Chairperson of Pegasus Airlines. During MATBA’s February 2026 onsite week in Chios, a leadership workshop involving Aegean Airlines CEO Dimitris Gerogiannis was designed and moderated by Michael Bell, Senior Client Partner at Korn Ferry. Athens International Airport and Hermes – Air Transport Organisation are strategic partners supporting industry engagement and outreach.

The curriculum is deliberately managerial. In the full-time route, the first semester comprises five compulsory subjects: the air transport business ecosystem, management and leadership, economics and finance, market analysis and forecasting, and regulatory and institutional issues. Students also select one elective from air transport and tourism; safety, security and crisis management; or emerging technologies and artificial intelligence. The second semester offers three streams—airports, airlines and air navigation service providers—and the third is devoted to the MBA thesis. Students come from a variety of professional backgrounds, including engineering.

Teaching is predominantly online and entirely in English. At the beginning of the programme, students take part in an introductory onsite teaching week in Chios; subsequent teaching and examinations are conducted remotely. Practical assignments include individual and group case studies, while additional industry events provide opportunities for professional exchange. The published full-time duration is 18 months (three semesters), with 90 ECTS credits and tuition fees of €10,000. MATBA’s next cohort is scheduled to start in February 2027.

For Indian professionals, accessibility is a strength of MATBA. The predominantly online format allows participants to study internationally without relocating, while the introductory onsite teaching week involves a short visit to Greece. One member of the inaugural cohort travelled from Canada to attend the opening week in Chios. Indian nationals can apply for a short-stay visa through the established procedures for the purpose of attending MATBA’s introductory onsite teaching week in Greece, as many Indian visitors to the country already do. With advance planning and the necessary documentation, this should be viewed as a manageable administrative step rather than a deterrent to participation, subject to the usual consular assessment and approval.

For Indian aviation professionals, the programme offers a chance to study the wider aviation value chain while continuing their careers. The inaugural group included working professionals with management experience, and MATBA also welcomes applicants who wish to enter the aviation sector from other backgrounds. Industry contact, case-based learning and an international academic network can support this professional development without requiring a multi-year relocation. Full application and eligibility information is available on the programme’s official website.

MATBA offers a chance to connect everyday operational experience with a wider understanding of the business—and to build an international network while pursuing careers at home. With its next cohort scheduled for February 2027, the programme presents a timely opportunity to prepare for greater responsibility in a growing sector. India’s aviation ambitions will need skilled leaders at every level; for some, that journey could begin with a week in the Aegean.