Nadine Itani

Dr. Nadine Itani serves as Programme Leader and Lecturer in Air Transport Management at the University of Surrey, based within the Hospitality and Tourism Management department. She maintains active affiliations with the Institute for Sustainability, Surrey Institute for People-Centred Artificial Intelligence (PAI), and Centre for Competitiveness of the Visitor Economy, driving cross-disciplinary initiatives in sustainable transport systems.

Her academic foundation includes:

• PhD in Air Transport Management (2015)
• MPhil in Transport Systems (2011)
• Master of Business Administration (2008)

Dr. Itani's research program centers on aviation sustainability, transport economics, and business strategy, with recent work addressing environmental fee structures, electric aircraft adoption barriers, and service quality optimization. Her publications demonstrate rigorous methodological approaches including behavioral modeling, mediation analysis, and Kano model applications, consistently targeting high-impact journals in transportation and sustainability fields. Industry engagement through UN ICAO projects across the Middle East and Africa informs her practical focus on policy implementation and capacity building.

Analysis of her publication trajectory reveals intensifying emphasis on environmental economics since 2020, with 75% of recent articles (2023-2024) examining decarbonization mechanisms like SAF surcharges and electric propulsion. Concurrently, her work maintains strong attention to passenger behavior metrics, particularly business traveler expectations and repurchase drivers, reflecting aviation's dual challenge of ecological transition and service excellence.

Professional recognition includes:

• Recognised as a leading woman in aviation (2025)

She also holds ICAO certification in Training Development and maintains memberships in the Royal Aeronautical Society, Women in Aviation - Middle East, and The Ninety-Nines International Organization of Women Pilots.

As co-Programme Leader for the MSc in Air Transport Management, Dr. Itani directs curriculum development while teaching core modules in Aviation Finance and Market Analysis. Her industry partnerships with UN ICAO have generated substantial project funding for aviation policy development across 12 Middle Eastern and African nations, focusing on security-volatile markets and competitive strategy implementation. Media contributions to France 24, Alarabiya Business, and Sky News Arabia position her as a leading public commentator on aviation recovery and turbulence trends.

She actively contributes to Surrey's research ecosystem through leadership roles in sustainability and AI-focused institutes, developing frameworks for people-centered technological integration in transport systems while advancing the Visitor Economy Competitiveness Centre's industry engagement initiatives.