Separate API Camp learning lab · 60–75 minutes

Power BI Career Starter Lab

Build an airline operations dashboard from four connected Excel files. This is a separate analytics practice section: it complements API Camp’s coding tracks without changing them.

0 of 7 learning checkpoints complete

Get the practice files

Download all four files into one folder. They use synthetic airline data and are designed to be related in Power BI.

flights.xlsx1,800 flight records. Use this as the main fact table. airlines.xlsxAirline name and business-model lookup. airports.xlsxAirport and geographic lookup. cancellation_codes.xlsxCancellation-reason lookup.

I downloaded the files and opened Power BI Desktop.

Lesson 1 · 10 minutes

Import the data

Choose Home → Get data → Excel workbook.

Choose flights.xlsx, tick the sheet in Navigator, and select Load. Repeat for the other three files.

In the Fields pane, rename the tables to Flights, Airlines, Airports, and Cancellation Codes.

Illustrative business-intelligence import screen showing the four airline practice files and a preview of flights.xlsx. — Illustrative visual guide: select each practice workbook and review the preview before loading.

Why: Flights records business events. The smaller files add descriptive context so your report can answer more useful questions.

I can see four imported tables.

Lesson 2 · 12 minutes

Connect the data model

Open Model view. Drag fields to create these relationships:

Required
Flights[Airline Code] → Airlines[Airline Code]

Recommended
Flights[Cancellation Code] → Cancellation Codes[Cancellation Code]

Illustrative model view showing Flights related to Airlines and Cancellation Codes with many-to-one markers. — Illustrative visual guide: the asterisk belongs beside Flights and the 1 belongs beside the lookup table.

For airports, start with Flights[Origin] → Airports[Airport Code]. Airports have two possible roles (origin and destination), so keep the first version simple.

Look for: the relationship should show * beside Flights and 1 beside the lookup table. This means many flight records can relate to one airline or cancellation reason.

I created the Airlines relationship.

Lesson 3 · 15 minutes

Create your first DAX measures

Right-click the Flights table and choose New measure. Add these one at a time.

Total Revenue = SUM(Flights[Total Revenue USD])

Total Passengers = SUM(Flights[Passengers])

Average Arrival Delay = AVERAGE(Flights[Arrival Delay Min])

Cancellation Rate = DIVIDE(
    CALCULATE(COUNTROWS(Flights), Flights[Cancelled] = "Yes"),
    COUNTROWS(Flights)
)

Profit Margin = DIVIDE(SUM(Flights[Profit USD]), [Total Revenue])

Illustrative measure editor showing a Total Revenue DAX measure and a valid result indicator. — Illustrative visual guide: create a measure, type the formula, then confirm that it is valid before using it in a visual.

Format revenue as currency, delay as a whole number, and the two rates as percentages.

DAX in plain English: SUM adds values, AVERAGE finds a typical value, and DIVIDE calculates a safe ratio.

I created at least Total Revenue, Total Passengers, and Average Arrival Delay.

Lesson 4 · 15 minutes

Build a dashboard

Start with questions, not decoration. Add these visuals in Report view:

Cards
Total Revenue, Total Passengers, Average Arrival Delay, Cancellation Rate

Revenue comparison
Bar chart: Airline Name by Total Revenue

Operations
Bar chart: Route by Average Arrival Delay

Cancellation pattern
Column chart: Cancellation Category by Cancellation Rate

Illustrative airline operations dashboard with KPI cards, revenue and delay charts, cancellation chart, and weather filter. — Illustrative visual guide: use a top row for KPI cards and arrange each chart around one business question.

Add a slicer for Weather Condition. Click a weather type and notice how the entire report responds.

I made four cards and two charts.

Lesson 5 · 8 minutes

Practice the analyst story

Use your dashboard to answer each question. Then reveal the coaching note.

Which airline has the most revenue—and is it also the most profitable?

Which routes have the biggest delay problem?

Does weather appear connected to cancellation rates?

I can explain one useful business insight from my report.

Next skill for Power BI jobs

Add a Calendar table, learn Power Query data cleaning, and practice SQL alongside Power BI. Create two more projects in different industries and keep a short written explanation for each one.

I finished the Power BI Career Starter Lab.