Network Planning Officer

Job Description

As part of the Independent Contribution and Application stage of the Network Planning career path, the Network Planning Officer coordinates and executes the Group’s yearly, monthly, weekly and daily schedule, and secures the slots, traffic rights and permits needed to operate it. The role covers the Group’s Air Operator Certificates in Belgium, Malta and Israel, and works in close daily coordination with the Group Control Centre (GCC), Maintenance, Commercial, Crewing and external stakeholders (airport slot coordinators, civil aviation authorities and handling agents). The Network Planning Officer reports to the Network Planning Manager.

Slots & airport coordination

• Apply for or update slots for in-season projects and additional operations as they arise.
• Keep slots aligned with the schedule as it evolves month to month, week to week and day to day, liaising with the Group Control Centre (GCC) on the updates.
• Build and maintain working relationships with slot coordinators, including through IATA Slots Conferences, to secure the best possible schedule.

Traffic rights & permits

• Apply for overflight (OVF) and landing permits for the scheduled flight program, in line with each authority’s procedures and lead times.
• Apply for or update overflight and landing permits to reflect new destinations, additional rotations or changing operational needs.
• Keep overflight and landing permits aligned with the schedule as it evolves, handing over requirements to GCC.
• Keep handling agents informed of upcoming permit needs, generally more than one month ahead, in coordination with GCC.

Scheduling & network support

• Build and maintain the yearly schedule, integrating maintenance (A- and C-checks) and additional requirements.
• Record and maintain all schedule limitations and restrictions (airport closures, NOTAMs, multi-ops constraints, cargo acceptance windows, etc.).
• Manage schedule changes and optimization requests from Maintenance, Commercial and new projects, including charters.
• Adjust capacity and seasonality in line with new contracts, aircraft availability and holiday periods.

Charters & special operations

• Assess the feasibility of charter requests from a schedule and traffic-rights perspective.
• Coordinate charter approval with all concerned departments to confirm the operation can be supported.
• Integrate approved charters into the existing schedule, taking all operational constraints and existing flights into account.
• Follow up on the execution of charter flights, including permits and information sharing with all stakeholders.

Reporting

• Maintain the cancellation report and support GCC with related data analysis.
• Prepare and distribute schedule updates and any other required reports.

Documentation monitoring & distribution

• Share insurance certificates with relevant parties and keep all systems up to date, obtaining specific certificates where required (e.g. Hong Kong, Mexico).
• Maintain wet-lease agreements, updating them for fleet changes and yearly renewals, and share with all stakeholders.
• Keep aircraft documentation (noise certificates, Airworthiness Review Certificates, etc.) current and distributed to all relevant parties.
• Distribute AOC-related certifications (Operations Specifications, AOC, new designations) to relevant parties and update all systems accordingly.

Aeropolitical affairs

• • Manage non-objection requests to protect the airline’s operating rights.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in economics, Business Administration, Industrial Engineering, Aviation Management or an equivalent qualification.

Experience

• Experience in network or schedule planning, or network/traffic analysis.

• Airport slot coordination and/or traffic rights and permit management experience is a strong asset.

• Aviation or logistics sector experience is an advantage.

• Advanced Excel skills and comfort working with schedule and reporting data.

• Familiarity with airline scheduling systems (e.g. B1) or willingness to learn.

• Knowledge of IATA Worldwide Slot Guidelines and airport coordination processes is a plus.

• Awareness of the bilateral/aeropolitical framework (designations, Ops Specs, AOC certifications) is an advantage.

• Fluent in English; French is a plus.

• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple deadlines across seasonal, monthly, weekly and daily cycles.

• Flexibility and composure when handling last-minute operational changes (AOG, maintenance, weather).

• Ability to work autonomously and make sound decisions within the role’s authority.

• Strong teamwork and cross-department coordination skills (GCC, Maintenance, Commercial, external authorities and agents).

• Attention to detail in regulatory, permit and documentation accuracy.

• Proactive, responsive and able to anticipate needs while adapting quickly to challenges.

• May share knowledge and provide informal guidance to junior colleagues.