CQUniversity Unit Profile
AVAT12015 Aviation Economics
Aviation Economics
All details in this unit profile for AVAT12015 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

Aviation Economics will provide a broad perspective of how economic theories and financial concepts relate and apply to the air transport industry. You will develop a critical awareness of the economic principles and theories that underpin air transport management and the concepts of demand and supply, elasticity, and regulation and deregulation as they apply to airlines and airports. In this unit, you will examine the inter-related nature of air transport and other sectors of an economy, and the interactions of air transport with broader socio-economic, tourism and environmental issues.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 2
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Pre-requisites: AVAT11013 Introduction to Aviation or AVAT11002 Basic Aeronautical Knowledge and AVAT11008 Introduction to Aviation Management and ECON11026 Principles of Economics.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 2 - 2025

Cairns
Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 30%
2. Essay
Weighting: 30%
3. Group Work
Weighting: 40%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from UC Reflections

Feedback

Seeking mid-term student feedback

Recommendation

The mid-term in-class student survey should continue to facilitate timely improvements to the student learning experience.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Apply key microeconomic principles to the aviation industry context
  2. Identify the drivers of the evolution of the aviation industry and the factors influencing the supply of and demand for aviation services
  3. Discuss the key economic issues relating to the provision, ownership, and regulation of aviation infrastructure
  4. Analyse key globalisation trends in the aviation industry including the impact of Open Sky policies and Global Alliances
  5. Identify the characteristics of the different market structures within which aviation organisations function and discuss their impact
  6. Effectively communicate the results of economic analysis to an audience of stakeholders regarding a potential project or decision.

N/A

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30%
2 - Essay - 30%
3 - Group Work - 40%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • Computer - ability to access study materials, including instructional videos and scan and upload assessment.
  • Computer - ability to access study materials, access Zoom application for meetings and view instructional videos.
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Renan Peres de Oliveira Unit Coordinator
r.peresdeoliveira@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 14 Jul 2025

Module/Topic

Principles of Economics & Profitability

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 21 Jul 2025

Module/Topic

Cost Structures

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 28 Jul 2025

Module/Topic

Supply, Demand & Elasticity

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 04 Aug 2025

Module/Topic

Pricing, Revenue Sources & Revenue Management

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 11 Aug 2025

Module/Topic

Regression Analysis 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 18 Aug 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

None

Week 6 Begin Date: 25 Aug 2025

Module/Topic

Airline Business Models / Guidance for Quiz 1

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 01 Sep 2025

Module/Topic

Market Structures, Competition & Consolidation

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Event: Quiz 1 (15%)

Week 8 Begin Date: 08 Sep 2025

Module/Topic

Market Entries, Exits & Bankruptcies

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 15 Sep 2025

Module/Topic

Deregulation & International Economics

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 22 Sep 2025

Module/Topic

Aviation Infrastructure, Operations & Ownership / Guidance for Essay

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 29 Sep 2025

Module/Topic

Demand Forecasting in Practice / Guidance for Quiz 2

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Event: Essay (30%)


Group Tutorial Exercises Due: Week 11 Friday (3 Oct 2025) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 12 Begin Date: 06 Oct 2025

Module/Topic

Aviation Charges, Taxes & Carbon Prices / Guidance for Group Work

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Event: Quiz 2 (15%)


Group Assignment Due: Week 12 Friday (10 Oct 2025) 5:00 pm AEST
Review Week Begin Date: 13 Oct 2025

Module/Topic

Group Work: In-Class Presentation

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Event: Group Work (40%)

- Begin Date: 20 Oct 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Online Quiz

Task Description

Online quizzes will be conducted in Week 7 covering all the theory content of Weeks 1-5, and in Week 11 covering al the theory of Weeks 6-11.

AI ASSESSMENT SCALE: NO AI

You must not use Al at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.

This assessment is exempted from the 72-hour submission grace period and must be completed by the stated submission date/time.


Number of Quizzes

2


Frequency of Quizzes

Other


Assessment Due Date

Quiz 1 will be due in Week 7 and Quiz 2 is due in Week 12.


Return Date to Students

Online quizzes will be graded automatically.


Weighting
30%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

This is a graded assessment. You must obtain an overall mark of at least 50% in each online quiz to pass the assessment item.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
To be completed on the day of assessment within the allotted timeframe.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply key microeconomic principles to the aviation industry context
  • Identify the drivers of the evolution of the aviation industry and the factors influencing the supply of and demand for aviation services
  • Identify the characteristics of the different market structures within which aviation organisations function and discuss their impact

2 Essay

Assessment Title
Group Tutorial Exercises

Task Description

Students must work on weekly tutorial exercises in groups and submit their work in Week 11 via Moodle.

AI ASSESSMENT SCALE: AI PLANNING

You may choose to employ Al for planning your essay, for the development of ideas, and/or research. Your final submission should reflect how you have developed and refined these ideas.

 


Assessment Due Date

Week 11 Friday (3 Oct 2025) 5:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Weighting
30%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

This is a graded assessment. You must obtain an overall mark of at least 50% in the essay to pass this assessment item.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online Group

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Identify the drivers of the evolution of the aviation industry and the factors influencing the supply of and demand for aviation services
  • Discuss the key economic issues relating to the provision, ownership, and regulation of aviation infrastructure
  • Analyse key globalisation trends in the aviation industry including the impact of Open Sky policies and Global Alliances
  • Identify the characteristics of the different market structures within which aviation organisations function and discuss their impact
  • Effectively communicate the results of economic analysis to an audience of stakeholders regarding a potential project or decision.

3 Group Work

Assessment Title
Group Assignment

Task Description

Students must complete a written research assignment on a particular topic, as discussed in Week 2, to be submitted by the end of Week 12 and presented in Week 13.

AI ASSESSMENT SCALE: AI PLANNING

You may choose to employ Al for planning your essay, for the development of ideas, and/or research. Your final submission should reflect how you have developed and refined these ideas.

 


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Friday (10 Oct 2025) 5:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Weighting
40%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

This is a graded assessment. You must obtain an overall mark of at least 50% in the presentation to pass this assessment item.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online Group

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply key microeconomic principles to the aviation industry context
  • Discuss the key economic issues relating to the provision, ownership, and regulation of aviation infrastructure
  • Analyse key globalisation trends in the aviation industry including the impact of Open Sky policies and Global Alliances
  • Effectively communicate the results of economic analysis to an audience of stakeholders regarding a potential project or decision.

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?