Research Analyst

Research Analyst Role: Research Analyst – Airport Ecosystem Context & Opportunity With the retirement of LoungeBuddy, the most comprehensive publicly available outlet database disappearing from the market, and known LoungeReview limitations, there is a clear strategic opportunity for Collinson / Priority Pass to establish itself as the authoritative source of accurate, up‑to‑date outlet data. At the same time, with the lack of an international standard for Airport Terminal definitions and consistency across vendors, we are in need of good quality curated data to lead the Airport Ecosystem space. Owning the best-in-class outlet and airport location dataset will: Strengthen Collinson’s programmes competitive advantage Unlock potential new revenue streams by licensing high‑quality outlet and location data to partners Improve internal reporting, network planning, and member experience To realise this opportunity, we propose hiring a Research Analyst focused on aviation, airport locations, outlets, and airline operations. This role will combine structured research, data curation, and industry awareness to accelerate and improve the quality of our master datasets. Role Purpose The Research Analyst will be responsible for building, maintaining, and enriching Collinson’s master database of airports, terminals, outlets, competitors and airline operations. The role bridges the gap between automated data collection (scraping, LLMs, third‑party feeds) and high‑quality, human‑validated intelligence. It ensures that our location and outlet data is accurate, well‑structured, and commercially valuable. Key Responsibilities 1. External Research & Source Identification Identify and evaluate the most reliable and comprehensive sources of outlet, airport, and airline data beyond official websites assessing coverage gaps vs direct scraping Maintain a catalogue of trusted sources to feed data‑scraping and ingestion processes (e.g. outlet review platforms, aviation publications, airport authorities) Monitor industry news and announcements related to outlets, airports, terminals, and airline operations 2. Data Validation & Disambiguation Review and validate scraped or third‑party data to ensure accuracy and relevance Disambiguate conflicting or duplicated data points and select the most meaningful values Support entity resolution, reconciling third‑party outlet and airport data with Collinson’s internal inventory Act as a subject‑matter reviewer to improve LLM‑driven enrichment processes 3. Master Location Maintenance Own the maintenance the Master Location database, covering airports, terminals, concourses, and sub‑locations Track and update changes such as terminal renumbering, new builds, closures, or connectivity changes Ensure location hierarchies accurately reflect passenger reality (e.g. terminal accessibility, airside/landside constraints) 4. Terminal Connectivity & Passenger Mapping Document terminal connectivity and passenger flows (e.g. which terminals are connected airside) Map passenger types (domestic, international, Schengen, non‑Schengen, etc.) to terminals and locations Enable more accurate understanding of which outlets members can realistically access, supporting traffic allocation and reporting 5. Airline & Network Intelligence Maintain and enrich airline datasets, including: Terminal operations by airport Airline categorisation (e.g. low‑cost carrier vs full‑service) Track airline moves between terminals and network changes Anticipate competitive outlet network changes by monitoring announcements before they appear in official networks 6. Crowdsourcing & Internal Community Engagement Coordinate internal crowdsourcing initiatives to gather insights from frequent travellers and knowledgeable staff Build and nurture an internal community contributing real‑world observations and updates Validate and incorporate crowdsourced data into master datasets 7. Communication & Business Updates Produce regular business updates highlighting: Recent changes to airports, outlets, and terminals Network expansions or closures Key insights and “good to know” information from core datasets Communicate clearly with stakeholders across Product, Commercial, Data, and Operations Required Skills & Experience Technical & Analytical Skills Comfortable working with structured data in Excel or similar tools Ability to run preset queries or extract data from source systems (no advanced coding required) Strong attention to detail and data quality Industry & Domain Skills Strong interest or passion for the aviation and travel industry Curiosity to stay up to date with industry news, airport developments, and market trends Previous experience in travel, aviation, or tourism (e.g. travel agency, airline, airport, or hospitality) is advantageous but not mandatory Communication & Collaboration Clear written and verbal communication skills Confidence engaging with a broad internal audience Ability to synthesise complex information into clear, actionable updates Personal Attributes Naturally curious and research‑oriented Methodical and organised Enjoys becoming a subject‑matter expert Comfortable working independently while collaborating closely with data, product, and commercial teams Why This Role Matters This role enables Collinson to: Replace and exceed the market value once provided by OutletBuddy Build a defensible, proprietary dataset that underpins Priority Pass’s future growth Reduce reliance on incomplete or inconsistent third‑party data Improve decision‑making across reporting, product design, and commercial strategy By investing in a dedicated Research Analyst, we establish long‑term in‑house expertise that compounds in value over time and becomes a strategic asset for the business. Notes for Internal Business Case & Recruiter Brief (Not for External Posting) Ideal candidates may come from travel agencies, tour operators, or travel services, with strong industry knowledge but without a desire to rapidly outgrow the role The goal is to build a long‑term, in‑house capability, not a short‑term stepping stone position Passion for aviation and data quality is more critical than advanced technical skills Division Data, BI & Analytics Locations Mumbai Remote status Hybrid Mumbai About Collinson We use our expertise and products to craft customer experiences. Our range of services helps global brand acquire, engage and retain choice-rich customers. © 2023 Collinson International Limited. Registered in England & Wales under registration No. 2577557 Registered address : 3 More London Riverside, London, SE1 2AQ, United Kingdom.