The Arrivals & Departures Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and delivering all Arrivals & Departures operations for and during the tournament. This role ensures seamless, safe, and efficient transportation services for all FIFA client groups and spectators, guaranteeing operational readiness and flawless delivery on all airports used for the tournament. The position also liaises closely with the Airport Operators, Federal Government and Host City authorities.
This role reports to the Senior Transport Manager and oversees key arrivals and departures sub-projects, including international and inter-city planning and operations, as well as aviation venue management. The Arrivals & Departures Manager collaborates closely with Airport Operators, Federal Government agencies, Host City authorities, the LFS Senior Transport Manager, the Transport Government Liaison & Integration Manager, and FIFA to define and implement an integrated concept of operations for Arrivals & Departures services. It is also the responsibility of this position to develop airport operational plans that provide essential support to both the Transport Functional Area and Event Services.
The successful candidate is expected to be a proactive and resilient professional, capable of leading and managing a team while operating efficiently under pressure and delivering to strict timelines. Managing the area’s activities and resources within the approved budget is also a key component of the role. The Arrivals & Departures Manager must ensure strong integration with all other FWWC2027 functional areas present at the airport—including Workforce, Volunteers, Guest Operations & Protocol Etiquette, Team Services, and IT—to ensure alignment with established FIFA SLAs and the seamless delivery of airport operations.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Designing and implementing a suitable A&D service model that covers all tournament airports, to service all FIFA Constituent Groups (Teams, Referees, FIFA Officials, VIPs, Workforce, Dignitaries, Media, Broadcast, Commercial Affiliates) at all official point-of-entry/exit sites, based on FIFA requirements and agreed service levels including but not limited to:
o Final Draw
o Team Workshops
o FWWC2027 Tournament
o Test Events
o Any other official side events
- Designing the initial structure of International and Inter-city Arrivals and Departures / Aviation and Airport Management and sub-projects including but not limited to A&D Information management, Venue planning, Constituent Group requirements, Tournament time operations.
- Planning and implementation of an Arrivals & Departures Plan for each FIFA Constituent Group based on FIFA requirements and service levels.
- Negotiating with the airport authorities and government agencies to ensure that all the structures and procedures of the airports are aligned to deliver the best operation on peak throughout the FWWC2027 operational period.
- Designing the concept of operations, the venue operating plan, and all relevant A&D policies and procedures.
- Integration with others LFS Transport workstreams functions within Event Transport for Airport pick-ups and drop-offs.
- Coordination with meet and greet companies regarding VIP arrivals and departures services.
- Contributing to the slot’s allocation plan of the HC Airports for the period of the tournament ensuring that priority is given to the FWWC2027-related aircraft movements (mainly PMA charter flights and FIFA VIP private jets).
- Ensuring successful integration of the FWWC2027 air traffic into the overall international airline schedule.
- Participate proactively in the Airport/ Mobility Working Groups and ensure (via close collaboration with HC Transport, Civil Aviation and Airport Operators and Authorities) that the air traffic match the airports and terminal capacities.
- Planning and development (in coordination with Airport Authorities, HC Transport, and other FWWC2027 Functional Areas (Security, Logistics, Team Services, Guest Operations, Marketing, etc.) the tournament time Operational Plan for the Airport (Airside and Landside Operations).
- Ensuring integration of the Airport Operational Plan with the Airport Transportation Plan, as well as correlation with all other Transport services and operations.
- Delivery of the final operational plan and ensure successful and smooth operations for all constituent groups.
- Implementing Project Management within A&D and Airport management, identifying key milestones of International and Inter-city Arrivals and Departures / Aviation and Airport Management sub-projects.
- Identifying and addressing key risks of International and Inter-city Arrivals and Departures / Aviation and Airport Management sub-projects.
- Content preparation (slides, handouts, etc.) and preparation of reports for the FWWC2027 related management meetings and working group meetings.
- Support recruiting, hiring each Host City A&D Manager, assigning responsibilities, and managing the Team from planning through delivery. Overall accountability for appropriate staffing levels and quality employees relating to all Airports.
- Ensure all Airport staff are properly trained by developing and maintaining training materials and coordinating the delivery of operational workshops and briefings, and role-specific instructions. This HQ manager maintains consistent training standards across all Host Cities Airports.
- Provide regular reporting to the Transport Senior Manager, FIFA counterparts, and other key stakeholders on coordination progress, issues, and decisions.
- Support test events, rehearsals, and operational readiness exercises. Oversee the installation and readiness of signage, transport desk, wayfinding etc.
- Maintain constant live communication with the Transport Command and Control, providing real-time updates on airport operations, incidents, delays, and any emerging issues. Ensure that all critical issue is escalated promptly, enabling rapid decision-making and coordinated responses across all transport functions, Government agencies and Airports operators. This includes monitoring on-ground conditions, reporting deviations from the plan, and implementing solutions to ensure smooth and uninterrupted service delivery.
