Key takeaways
- The jobs in demand are also the jobs worth building on. The roles airports are working hardest to fill are also the ones that offer the clearest progression.
- The main entry points are more open than they look. Ground operations and security recruit almost continuously and will train capable people who have no aviation background which makes them a realistic way in for career changers and new starters alike.
- Job titles can vary but the tasks and competencies are what matter. Klayo gives you access to over 100 industry-standard jobs to help you understand what tasks they cover, which competencies they require and to allow you to benchmark yourself against a role and see exactly where you already match and where to focus next.
With rising passenger numbers expected over the next decade and a large share of the existing workforce is nearing retirement, the airport and aviation sector is heavily focused on recruiting the next generation of professionals to build the workforce they will need to service those passengers. Airports are also investing record sums in technology, regulation is ever expanding, and together, these factors have opened up thousands of roles across the industry and have changed which skills carry the most weight.
If you are looking at starting or advancing an airport career, this might be the best time to consider your options as the roles airports are working hardest to fill are, for the most part, also the ones that offer the clearest progression.
Below are five of those roles, why each is in demand right now, and what the role looks like at an industry-standard level.
Customer Service Agent
The role: The Customer Service Agent role is the face of the airline and a key point of contact for passengers, providing assistance and ensuring a smooth travel experience from check-in to boarding. This position requires excellent communication skills, the ability to manage stressful situations, and a strong focus on customer satisfaction. (source: Customer Service Agent, Klayo Intelligence)
Why it’s in demand: Passenger numbers are climbing and airports are investing heavily in the experience of moving through them. ACI World forecasts global passenger traffic will reach 10.2 billion in 2026, up 3.9% year on year, and double to 18.8 billion by 2045. More passengers means more frontline staff to guide and support them, which makes customer service one of the most consistently recruited roles in any terminal, and one that regularly welcomes people from outside aviation
Aviation security officer
The role: The Aviation Security Officer position is responsible for providing high-standard customer-focused security duties at the airport by building strong relationships with internal stakeholders. Duties include conducting security screening on passengers and baggage, which requires the use of security screening equipment, monitoring of security restricted areas, and general monitoring passengers and baggage to ensure a high level of security. (source: Aviation security officer, Klayo Intelligence)
Why it’s in demand: Security is among the most tightly regulated parts of any airport, and the bar keeps rising. ACI World's July 2026 workforce guidance called for airports to adopt shared competency frameworks before assessing training needs, a marker of how structured these roles are becoming. Regulation of this kind generates steady, lasting demand for qualified officers and the people who supervise them.
Maintenance Supervisor - Fleet & Equipment
The role: The Maintenance Supervisor - Fleet & Equipment position oversees the maintenance and repair of airport vehicles and equipment. This role ensures that works are completed in adherence to regulatory and manufacturer requirements, as well as ensuring that works are conducted in a safe and efficient manner. (source: Maintenance Supervisor - Fleet & Equipment, Klayo Intelligence)
Why it’s in demand: Airports are replacing diesel ground support equipment with electric fleets and that shift is rewriting what maintenance teams need to know. Swissport alone is targeting 55% fleet electrification by 2032, and every operator making that move needs supervisors who can lead crews as maintenance workforces trained on diesel and hydraulic systems retrain onto high-voltage electrical safety and battery diagnostics. The equipment is growing in both volume and complexity, which keeps experienced maintenance supervisors in genuinely short supply.
Airport operations agent
The role: The Airport Operations Agent position is responsible for the continuity of daily airport operations. This is achieved by conducting assistance to operations as well as professional duties, and overseeing operations. This role ensures that operations adhere to policies and procedures, as well as regulatory requirements regarding safety and security. (source: Airport operations agent, Klayo Intelligence)
Why it’s in demand: As airports grow busier and more complex, the people who coordinate the whole operation become harder to replace. Demand for operations agents rises with that complexity rather than with any single trend, which keeps the role in steady need even when hiring cools elsewhere.
Digital transformation manager
The role: The Digital Transformation Manager is responsible for directing the strategy and delivery of digital transformation across aviation infrastructure. It focuses on driving innovation, digitization, and the modernization of organizational processes and standards. Working across multiple divisions, the role identifies and implements technology solutions to improve project delivery, facility management, operations, and the passenger experience. It also provides support throughout all design and construction phases by integrating project deliverables and engaging with key stakeholders. (source: Digital transformation manager, Klayo Intelligence)
Why it’s in demand: Airports are spending more on technology than at any point on record. SITA's 2025 research put industry technology investment at US$14.8 billion, or 7.3% of revenue, up from 6.4% a year earlier. Every one of those systems needs people to run it and interpret what it produces, which has made data and digital skills some of the most sought-after in the sector.
