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(Air Freight Coordinator, Air Cargo Traffic Officer, Cargo Operations Supervisor, Air Freight Operations Officer)
Transport & Logistics
Salary
€30,000 - €55,000/yr
Level
Professional
Outlook
Stable
Sector
Transport & Logistics
As an Aircraft Cargo Operations Coordinator you direct and coordinate the movement of freight and cargo at an airport terminal, overseeing the loading, unloading, and handling of goods on departing and arriving flights. You review incoming flight data to plan ramp activities, prepare loading plans that account for weight distribution, and ensure the right equipment and personnel are in place for each operation. You work closely with ramp agents, warehouse staff, customs officials, and airline representatives to ensure cargo is handled safely, securely, and in compliance with aviation regulations. Documentation is a significant part of the role — you manage airway bills, dangerous goods declarations, and inventory records to keep shipments on schedule and fully traceable.
Listen: a day as an Aircraft Cargo Operations Coordinator
Your alarm goes off at 04:30. You are on the early shift at a busy cargo terminal, and your day begins before most people have opened their eyes. By 05:15 you are at your desk in the operations room, logging into the cargo management system to pull up the flight schedule for the day. You check incoming manifests for the first freighter arrival at 06:40, scanning the load breakdown for any dangerous goods declarations — lithium batteries, aerosols, dry ice — that need special handling procedures under IATA regulations. By 06:00 you have briefed the ramp team and the warehouse supervisor, confirming which ground support equipment is needed and where it should be positioned. When the aircraft arrives, you monitor the offload from the operations window and coordinate with the customs officer on site if any shipments require an examination before they can be released to the freight forwarder.
A Leaving Certificate with subjects such as Mathematics, Business, and Geography provides a solid foundation for this career. Entry is typically achieved through a QQI Level 6 award in Aviation Studies, Logistics, or a related discipline from a College of Further Education or a Technological University. Some candidates enter via a Level 7 or Level 8 degree in Transport Management, Logistics, or Business from institutions such as TU Dublin, ATU, or SETU. Ground handling companies and airlines also recruit candidates who complete in-house or industry training programmes, including IATA-accredited dangerous goods and cargo handling courses. No statutory professional registration body governs this role, but IATA certification in cargo operations and dangerous goods handling is widely expected by Irish employers.
Most coordinators begin as ramp agents or cargo handlers with a ground handling company such as Swissport or dnata at Dublin, Shannon, or Cork airport, gaining hands-on operational experience. With a few years of experience and relevant IATA certifications, progression to a coordinator or supervisory role becomes achievable. From there, you can advance to operations manager or cargo station manager, overseeing an entire cargo facility. Senior professionals may move into logistics planning, airline operations management, or regional management roles within international ground handling or freight companies.
AI-powered cargo management systems are increasingly automating load planning calculations, document verification, and shipment tracking, reducing the amount of manual data entry coordinators must handle. Predictive analytics tools are being adopted by airlines and ground handlers to optimise ramp resource allocation and anticipate delays. However, the hands-on, safety-critical nature of ramp coordination means that human oversight and decision-making remain essential, particularly when managing exceptions, dangerous goods, or security incidents. Coordinators who are comfortable working with digital operations platforms and data dashboards will be best placed as technology continues to evolve in this field.
→ Aircraft Cargo Operations Coordinator (Current role)
Organisations in Ireland that employ people in this occupation.
Dublin Airport, Co. Dublin
Oversee cargo operations and ramp coordination at Dublin Airport
Dublin Airport, Co. Dublin
Coordinate freight loading plans and ramp activities for scheduled flights
Dublin Airport & Cork Airport
Provide ground handling and cargo coordination services for multiple airlines
Dublin Airport, Co. Dublin
Manage aircraft cargo handling, loading plans and ramp operations
Dublin Airport, Co. Dublin
Coordinate express freight movement and cargo documentation at Dublin hub
Dublin Airport, Co. Dublin
Direct air cargo operations and weight distribution planning for freight flights
Shannon, Co. Clare
Coordinate cargo operations and freight handling at Shannon Airport
Dublin Airport, Co. Dublin
Plan and oversee cargo loading and freight logistics for dedicated freighter aircraft
Dublin Airport, Co. Dublin
Coordinate ramp activities, cargo handling and load planning across Irish bases
Dublin Airport, Co. Dublin
Manage air freight bookings, cargo documentation and airline coordination
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