Linked In?
Hi David,
Are you on 'Linked In' ? Have you tried using it as a tool in your quest?
Sign up for that and build your personal profile with a good, solid statement of who you are and what you are about.
Then go searching for Airline / Airport senior managers, you don't have to search for them by name, just by company and their names will come up if they are also 'Linked In' users. You then make contact with them and tell them what you are trying to achieve.
Some of course will not reply but alot will and I would be surprised if this does not lead to something positive.
It's all about contacts. Can't your Uni help at all??
Best of Luck.
D.O.G