Carleton University – IATA Professional Certificate in Air Transportation Principles and Policy

5 live virtual classroom courses to be completed in 2 years

The Professional Certificate in Air Transportation Principles and Policy provides professionals with a solid foundation of knowledge about the nexus of government policy and the operating environment of civil aviation. This program is offered jointly by Carleton University’s School of Public Policy and Administration, through its Transportation Policy Innovation Centre, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Become a policy-savvy expert who truly understands how the air transport industry functions. If you work in the public sector, this certificate will help you hone your public policy development skills as you gain insight into the workings of this important economic sector. On the other hand, if you work in the private sector, you will take your knowledge of your sector of employment to a higher level while you learn how to predict, influence, and implement the regulatory framework that affects every facet of civil aviation.

Please note, as this is facilitated in partnership with IATA, our training coordinator will be responsible for registering you in all of the certificate courses.

Course list

COURSE TITLE (all courses are offered in a virtual format)	DELIVERED BY	DATES OF UPCOMING SESSIONS
Core Courses
Fundamentals of the Air Transport System	Carleton University	October 19 – 23, 2026 May 17 – 21, 2027
Public Policy and Regulation for Civil Aviation	Carleton University	December 7 – 11, 2026 June 14 – 18, 2027
Air Transport Economics	IATA	See IATA catalogue
Required Courses per Stream
Airline Business Foundations with Management Game	IATA	See IATA catalogue
Air Service Development for Tourism	IATA	See IATA catalogue
Safety Risk Management	IATA	See IATA catalogue
Aviation Security Management	IATA	See IATA catalogue
Aviation and the Environment	IATA	See IATA catalogue
Other electives	IATA	See full list here

List of elective courses:

Human Factors in Aviation (SAC032VCEN02)
Aviation Security Management (SEC017VCEN02)
Security Management System (SEC014VCEN01)
Aviation Cyber Security (SEC024VCEN02)
Airline Safety Investigation (SAC014VCEN02)
Safety Management System (SMS) for Airlines (SAC015VCEN02)
Global Aviation Competition / Antitrust Law (LRC011VCEN02)
International Negotiation Skills (GMC025VCEN02)
Sustainable Aviation Fuels (ENC006VCEN01)
Flight Data Analysis for Airlines (SAC044VCEN02)
Airline Business Foundations with Management Game (ALC012VCEN01)
Route Forecasting & Development (ALC024VCEN01)
Safety Risk Management (SAC038VCEN02)
Strategic Destination Management (TTC035VEEN01)*
Air Service Development for Tourism (TTC039VCEN02)
Consumer Protection in Air Transport (LRC012VCEN02)
Aviation and the Environment (ENC004VCEN02)
Design a sustainable strategy – Fundamentals (ENC013VCEN01)
Aviation law for Managers (LRC009VCEN01) *
Aviation Law for Route Network Development (LRC014VCEN01) *

* If offered in virtual format.

The ability of participants to enroll in any given elective will be subject to that course being offered in virtual format by IATA, based, on having a minimum of five (5) students enrolled in the course (either through the Program or independently through IATA’s normal source of customers) for it to be offered.

Applicants will be required to communicate their courses at the time of registration from the list above to the registration counsellor. However, applicants will be allowed to make changes to their selected courses during the Program, in consultation with the registration counsellor.

Please note that:

All elective courses included in the Program have been selected in part for their popularity and frequency of delivery by IATA;
Every reasonable effort will be made to offer all elective courses selected by participants in the two-year window of their Program;
Nevertheless, some flexibility will be expected from participants to adjust their choice and sequence of elective(s), if necessary, consistent with their training needs, in order to register for elective course(s) that IATA will be able to deliver in the remaining time; and
In case of an unforeseen constraint on the part of a participant, CU and IATA will afford them all reasonable flexibility to complete the Program in a manner that meets their needs.

What you will learn

Upon completion of this program you will be able to:

In the private sector

Extend your grasp of the inner workings of the entire industry and the government decision-making processes to make you an effective interlocutor for your company and for the aviation industry as a whole.
Develop your ability to influence national and international regulatory frameworks to bring added value to your organization and promote your upward mobility.

In the public sector

Demonstrate a solid theoretical and practical understanding of how the air transport industry functions as well as the challenges and opportunities it faces.
Hone your public-policy development skills to make you an even better regulator.

“I trusted the affiliation with Carleton University would lead to a positive experience. Now, I have skills, knowledge, and the context to contribute meaningfully to conversations about the industry.” – Matt Whittle

Who should attend

Entry and intermediate-level analysts and managers in government, in the air transport industry, or in organizations that interact or do business with the air transport sector.
Senior managers in government who expect to take on significant new responsibilities for policy-making in air transport.
Managers in airlines, airports, and air navigation service-providers organizations whose job responsibilities include establishing and maintaining influential relationships with government policymakers.
Applicants who work or recently have been recruited to work in a policy-making or regulatory governance role in air transport.

Program fee

The total fee of the program is $9,950 CAD (approximately $7,650 USD).

Certificate awarded

Upon successful completion of the program, you will be awarded an IATA-Carleton University Professional Certificate in Air Transportation Principles and Policy.

Possibility to take CU courses on a standalone basis

With a view to promoting registrations to the Program, it will be possible for applicants to register for one or both of the CU courses separately.

Transition towards the Program:

Any participant who successfully completes one or more of the courses will be considered favourably for admission into the Program.
Any participant who successfully completes one or more of the courses will receive a credit towards the number of courses needed to obtain the Program certificate. That is, successful completion of XTC008VCEN01 and/or XTC009VCEN01 will reduce the number of courses needed to complete the Program by one or two, as applicable.
This credit will be applicable for a two-year period from the date of completion of the course in question. If a participant completes both courses, the two-year period will apply to each one individually.
A participant who successfully completes one or both of the courses in question will receive a credit towards the normal registration fee of Program as a whole. For each CU course taken, the credit will be the amount paid by the participant. For instance, if the participant paid $1,950 CAD to take one of the CU courses, the fee to join the Program will be reduced by the same amount. The two-year limit mentioned in (3.) above will apply to this credit.