At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage strategic airline partnerships and drive revenue growth across Europe.
- Company: Join a well-funded startup with big ambitions in the travel tech space.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, unlimited PTO, and pre-IPO equity packages.
- Other info: Dynamic teams and open communication foster an entrepreneurial culture.
- Why this job: Shape the future of travel with innovative fintech solutions and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: 6+ years in airline partnerships with strong negotiation and commercial skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
As a Sr. Business Development Manager, Airline Partnerships (Europe), you will own and grow a portfolio of strategic airline relationships across Europe, driving both revenue and margin performance within Hopper's ecosystem. You will play a critical role in shaping Hopper's airline distribution strategy across NDC, GDS, and direct partnerships, working closely with leading European carriers such as Lufthansa Group, IAG, Air France-KLM, and Turkish Airlines.
What Would Your Day-to-day Look Like
- Own and manage a portfolio of European airline partnerships with a P&L mindset, serving as the primary point of contact for commercial, distribution, and operational topics.
- Build strong, senior-level relationships across airline sales, distribution, and revenue management teams.
- Develop and execute strategies to grow top-line revenue (TTV) and improve unit economics, analyzing performance across channels (NDC vs. GDS), fare mix, and ancillary attachment rates.
- Lead negotiations for new agreements, renewals, and extensions -- driving improved commercial terms including base commissions, sector rebates, and marketing development funds (MDF).
- Identify and act on opportunities to optimize underperforming partnerships.
- Develop deep expertise in airline distribution (NDC, EDIFACT, aggregators) and European airline competitive dynamics, translating industry trends into actionable strategies.
- Partner cross-functionally with Product, Growth/Marketing, and Finance to align on feature development, campaigns, forecasting, and deal modeling.
- Track KPIs including revenue, margin, incentive attainment, and product mix, and lead Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) with airline partners.
An ideal candidate has
- 6+ years of experience in airline distribution, OTA, TMC, GDS, or airline partnerships in European markets; MENA experience is a plus.
- A proven track record managing strategic accounts, negotiating commercial agreements, and driving measurable revenue growth.
- Strong understanding of airline distribution (NDC vs. GDS), fare structures, ancillaries, and airline economics.
- A commercial mindset -- you think in revenue and margin, not just volume, and have experience working with incentives, rebates, and performance-based deals.
- Excellent presentation and storytelling skills; ability to communicate effectively with both airline executives and internal stakeholders.
- Highly organized, self‑driven, and comfortable operating in a fast‑paced, high‑growth environment.
- Bilingual or advanced proficiency in German, Spanish, or French is a plus.
Perks And Benefits Of Working With Us
- Well‑funded and proven startup with large ambitions, competitive salary, upsides of pre‑IPO equity packages.
- Hopper covers 100% of the premiums for the employee for a group insurance plan through Vitality Health.
- Automatic contributions when you start with Hopper through Smart Pension.
- Access to co‑working space on demand through FlexDesk AND Work‑from‑home stipend.
- Carrot Cash travel stipend.
- Unlimited PTO.
- Entrepreneurial culture where pushing limits and taking risks is everyday business.
- Open communication with management and company leadership.
- Small, dynamic teams = massive impact.
More About Hopper
At Hopper, we are on a mission to become the leading travel platform globally – powering Hopper’s mobile app, website and our B2B business, HTS (Hopper Technology Solutions). By leveraging massive amounts of data and advanced machine learning algorithms, Hopper combines its world‑class travel agency offering with proprietary fintech products to bring transparency, flexibility and savings to travelers globally.
Sr Business Development Manager, Airline Partnerships- Europe/ UK in London employer: Hopper
Hopper is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and entrepreneurial work culture that empowers employees to push limits and take risks. With generous benefits including unlimited PTO, comprehensive health coverage, and pre-IPO equity packages, employees are well-supported in their professional growth while contributing to a mission-driven company at the forefront of travel technology. Located in a fast-paced environment, team members enjoy the opportunity to make a significant impact within small, collaborative teams, all while working with leading European airline partners.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Sr Business Development Manager, Airline Partnerships- Europe/ UK in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the airline industry and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. A personal recommendation can go a long way in landing that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the companies you’re applying to. Understand their airline partnerships, recent news, and how they fit into the European market. This will help you stand out as someone who’s genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your negotiation skills! Be ready to discuss how you've successfully managed partnerships in the past. Use specific examples to demonstrate your ability to drive revenue and improve commercial terms.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Sr Business Development Manager, Airline Partnerships- Europe/ UK in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Sr. Business Development Manager. Highlight your experience in airline partnerships and any relevant achievements that showcase your ability to drive revenue and manage strategic accounts.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should tell a story about your journey in the airline industry. Use it to express your passion for building partnerships and how your skills align with our mission at Hopper. Don’t forget to mention why you’re excited about this specific role!
Showcase Your Commercial Mindset:In your application, emphasise your commercial mindset. Share examples of how you've successfully negotiated agreements or improved unit economics in previous roles. We want to see that you think in terms of revenue and margin, not just volume.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hopper
✨Know Your Airlines
Before the interview, dive deep into the airline partnerships that are relevant to the role. Familiarise yourself with the key players like Lufthansa Group and Air France-KLM, and understand their distribution strategies. This will not only show your enthusiasm but also your commitment to the industry.
✨Showcase Your P&L Mindset
Be prepared to discuss how you've managed portfolios with a profit and loss mindset in the past. Bring specific examples of how you’ve driven revenue growth and improved unit economics. This will demonstrate that you can think commercially and strategically, which is crucial for this role.
✨Master the Art of Negotiation
Since negotiations are a big part of this job, come ready to share your experiences. Talk about successful agreements you've led, focusing on the commercial terms you negotiated. Highlighting your ability to secure better deals will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration
This role requires working closely with various teams. Think of examples where you've partnered with product, marketing, or finance teams to achieve a common goal. Being able to illustrate your collaborative skills will show that you're a team player who can thrive in a dynamic environment.
