Duration: This is for a fixed term contract initially for 18 months.
Location: Didsbury Manchester
Application Closing Date: 10th October 2025
Start Date: February 2026
The role – Operations Assistant Apprentice
As an Operations Assistant Apprentice your key role will be to support the Operational Control Centre (OCC) Team. You’ll be co-ordinating and planning all the daily operational activities essential to ensuring all BA Cityflyer flights are operated safely in accordance with the company requirements and on time performance, minimising delays and disruption to customers and crew,
This is an approved apprenticeship scheme whereby the successful candidate will study an established curriculum whilst fulfilling the duties of an Operations Assistant within the Operations Control Centre.
It takes a carefully coordinated team effort to ensure our customers, depart on time, all the time. BA Cityflyer colleagues in the Operations Control Centre all play their part. You’ll gain experience across the department and will learn how to operate our different systems, gaining a full understanding of how we deal with disruption and keep flights on schedule.
With extensive training, support and hands on experience, the programme will give you everything you need to gain an apprenticeship as an Aviation Ground Specialist.
The Programme
The Operations Assistant Apprenticeship is delivered by our training provider Crosby Aviation. This apprenticeship will consist of 18 months of ‘on the job’ training along with classroom and online learning.
On completion of your apprenticeship you’ll be awarded a Level 3 Aviation Ground Specialist qualification which is internationally recognised and progressing to further opportunities within the Company.
The Apprenticeship will provide you with the opportunity to learn about a variety of aviation topics including:
- Flying Programme Management
- Crew Control - rules and regulations
- Meteorology
- Flight planning
- Aircraft Performance,
- Maintenance requirements,
- Human Factors
You’ll also learn about the wider industry and the airline itself through visits and conferences.
What you’ll do:
- Complete training to meet the Aviation Ground Specialist apprenticeship standard.
- Provide general support within the COC to enable the Operations/Crew Controller to maintain focus on contingency planning.
- Work with the Crew Controllers monitoring irregular operations ensuring crew are operating within EASA regulations and company scheduling agreements
- Ensuring crew duties, sickness and fatigue issues are reported and logged
- Maintain aircraft tracking in the AIMS Operations Control System to ensure accurate real time information is available to the COC
- Liaise with internal and external customers around the network to ensure accurate and timely flow of information in / out of the COC
- Monitor airport runway slots, action cancellations and amendments as required.
- Monitor weather trends at all operational airports
- Capture disruption information to defend and assist in the defence of EU261 claims
What you’ll bring to BA Cityflyer:
We’re looking for candidates who have a keen interest in the aviation industry, you’ll need to able to demonstrate effective planning and organising skills, ability to prioritise your own workload.
You’ll need to demonstrate excellent problem-solving skills, perseverance with the ability of seeing tasks through to completion along with excellent interpersonal skills (both verbal and written) .
- Experience in working with Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word, Powerpoint) is essential
- GCSE's Grade C or above, or equivalent in Maths & English
- The ability to work shifts (12 hour shifts ) supporting a 24 hour operation
What we offer:
We believe that all the people who work with us should feel valued for the part they play. It’s one of the reasons our rewards go far beyond a competitive salary.
From the day you join us, you’ll get access to brilliant staff travel benefits including unlimited basic and premium standby tickets on British Airways flights. You’ll also receive up to 30 discounted ‘Hotline’ airfares per year for yourself, friends, and family.
At British Airways you’ll have the chance to take on new challenges and move forward in a way that feels right for you. We encourage all those who work for us to consider opportunities right across our business to help you develop and progress.
We never stand still, and we don’t expect our people to either.
Inclusion & Diversity
At British Airways we all have a part to play in creating an inclusive place to work. Diverse representation among our people is really important to us and we recognise that all our colleagues are uniquely different and bring their own originality, creativity and identity to work.
Further Information & Next Steps
We are delighted you are considering applying! Here’s some more information you may need about the application process:
- All sections of your application need to be complete by the deadline given
- Due to high volumes of applications, you may only apply for one apprenticeship programme. We would recommend for you to read about each apprenticeship scheme before applying as only your first application will be considered
- If you are successful with the initial application, you will be invited to complete a short video interview within a given timeframe
- Across all stages of the application process, if you fail to submit by the deadline, your application will be automatically withdrawn.
Timelines for this recruitment process
- Initial applications open between 24 September – 10 October but may close earlier if volumes are high
- If your initial application is successful, you will be invited to complete a video interview in October
- If your video interview is successful, you will be invited to an Assessment Centre which will take place on 10th November 2025, this will take place in person at our Head Office, Didsbury, Manchester.
- Applicants must have the right to work in the United Kingdom
