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How to hire an airline operations agent

Airline operations agent hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring airline operations agents in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire an airline operations agent is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new airline operations agent to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire an airline operations agent, step by step

To hire an airline operations agent, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire an airline operations agent:

Here's a step-by-step airline operations agent hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write an airline operations agent job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new airline operations agent
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the airline operations agent you need to hire. Certain airline operations agent roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    An airline operations agent's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, airline operations agents from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of airline operations agents.

    Type of Airline Operations AgentDescriptionHourly rate
    Airline Operations Agent$10-22
    AgentAgents are individuals who are employed by their clients to represent them in various dealings. Agents are usually employed by people in the show business industry, such as actors, writers, or directors... Show more$9-34
    Passenger Service AgentPassenger service agents are professionals who work inside airport terminals to provide assistance and related customer services to the airlines they serve. These agents are required to issue airline tickets for clients while checking if their requested dates of flights are available and then prepare their itineraries accordingly... Show more$11-17
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Reservations
    • FAA
    • Weather Reports
    • Outbound Flights
    • Check-In Process
    Responsibilities:
    • Integrate logistics principles into supply chain solutions to resolve customer issues and achieve customer satisfaction.
    • Support high-level logistics operations for all air and ocean export/imports to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
    • Patrol specific areas on foot or motorize conveyance, respond promptly to calls for assistance.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your airline operations agent job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An airline operations agent salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, airline operations agents' average salary in florida is 30% less than in vermont.
    • Seniority. Entry-level airline operations agents earn 55% less than senior-level airline operations agents.
    • Certifications. An airline operations agent with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an airline operations agent's salary.

    Average airline operations agent salary

    $15.25hourly

    $31,715 yearly

    Entry-level airline operations agent salary
    $21,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 5, 2025
  4. Writing an airline operations agent job description

    An airline operations agent job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an airline operations agent job description:

    Airline operations agent job description example

    Airline Customer and Ramp Service Agent - Cross-Utilized Agent (Seasonal)
    Starting wage $15.50/hour

    • Paid Time Off
    • Must have a valid driver's license
    • Must pass a 10-year background check and pre-employment drug test
    • Must be able to complete required training
    • Must have open availability

    General Purpose of Job: This position is responsible for providing total customer service to all people desiring to use customer or charter service by being attentive to their needs, politely handling their inquiries promptly, and completing the required transactions as noted below. Additional responsibilities include ramp, aircraft cleaning, operations and commissary duties as required.

    Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

    • The ideal candidate must be people oriented, highly motivated with a positive and friendly attitude.
    • Processing Customers tickets, checking baggage, monitoring carry-on baggage for size and quantity, and assigning seats.
    • Providing information on arrival and departure times, boarding procedures, carry-on regulations, and seating arrangements.
    • Handling denied boarding situations, soliciting volunteers, accommodating Customers and providing hotel, meal, and taxi vouchers when appropriate.
    • Ensures FAA, Airline, and airport regulations are followed. Enforces safety/security measures and protects sensitive zones.
    • Assists Customers with special needs, i.e., Customers who need assistance in boarding.
    • Loading and uploading baggage on and off the aircraft.
    • Marshaling in the planes and pushing back the aircraft.
    • Excellent communication skills.
    • Work in extreme outdoor conditions.
    • Ability to push/pull/lift 70 lbs. on a continuous basis.
    • Able to read and write English; bilingual skills a plus.
    • Ability to work efficiently under time constraints.
    • Must be available to work varied hours including swing and graveyard shifts plus weekends and holidays
    • Other duties as assigned by the Station Leader.
    • Must be 18 years or older.
    • Must pass a ten (10) year background check and pre-employment drug test.
    • Must have authorization to work in the U.S. as defined in the Immigration Act of 1986.
    • Able to attend required training.
    • Valid Driver’s license

    Competency/Behavioral Requirements: Be pleasant with others on the job and display a good-natured, cooperative attitude. Be reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfill obligations. Attention to Detail. Maintain composure, keep emotions in check, control anger, and avoid aggressive behavior even in difficult situations. Accept criticism and deal calmly and effectively with high stress situations be open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. Willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. Be sensitive to others' needs and feelings and be understanding and helpful on the job. Abiding by TDA and Airline policies and procedures, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. Be persistent in the face of obstacles

    Physical Demands:
    Must be able to carry 70 pound suitcase from the floor to 18 inches and carry 70 pound suitcase in front of you with both hands for a distance of up to 25 feet; must have physical dexterity sufficient to perform repetitive tasks and motions, including bending at the waist and knees, squatting, kneeling, crawling, twisting and sustaining those positions for extended amounts of time. Must have sufficient vision and ability to safely perform the essential functions of the position.
    Work Environment: Airport environment: Indoors and Outdoors. Extreme outdoor conditions where extreme temperature ranges may be encountered.

    Other Requirements and Qualifications: Education: High School diploma or equivalent.

    Knowledge: Possess basic computer skills

  5. Post your job

    To find the right airline operations agent for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with airline operations agents they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit airline operations agents who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your airline operations agent job on Zippia to find and recruit airline operations agent candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with airline operations agent candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new airline operations agent

    Once you've found the airline operations agent candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire an airline operations agent?

Hiring an airline operations agent comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting airline operations agents involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of airline operations agent recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $31,715 per year for an airline operations agent, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for airline operations agents in the US typically range between $10 and $22 an hour.

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