It very much depends where you are aiming to work. The British airlines, on the whole, give very little credence to academic qualifications. They may ask for a couple of A-levels from very young applicants, but that's about it. Despite optimistic posts suggesting 'a degree must help', all the evidence I see suggests that a degree makes very little difference indeed at British airlines. Some other European countries' airlines are much more influenced by further educational qualifications, and, in some countries, a degree is almost essential.
Similarly, differences apply in the transition to management in your later career. In UK, most airlines choose pilots for management purely on flying qualifications and experience. MBAs and similar tend to be regarded as a nice (and somewhat idiosyncratic) extra, but hardly crucial to the role. There are one or two exceptions, but they are very much the minority. Again, other countries have different procedures and customs.
So, you need to look carefully at the way things are done in the country - and company - where you wish to work.
Scroggs