United Airlines has completed the first phase of a major expansion of its Flight Training Center in Denver, increasing capacity at what the carrier describes as the world’s largest pilot training facility.
Developed in partnership with aviation training specialist CAE, the expansion has added 40 new training devices since 2022, including full-motion flight simulators and fixed training devices.
The Denver campus now spans nearly 700,000 square feet across eight buildings and can train as many as 860 pilots per day.
United is already preparing a second phase of expansion, with construction expected to begin in 2027 and the additional facility scheduled to become operational around 2030.
“United pilots are the best aviators in the world, and the pace at which our team has completed this project is an example of making investments that support our high standard of excellence,” said United CEO Scott Kirby.
Denver facility can train 860 pilots per day
Located in Denver’s Central Park neighbourhood, the 22-acre Flight Training Center is United’s sole training facility for its nearly 18,000 active pilots as well as newly recruited pilots.
The campus currently has 52 full-motion flight simulators and 34 fixed training devices.
United says the facility is capable of conducting more than 32,000 training events annually and operates around the clock for 362 days each year.
Pilots undergo simulator training during their initial qualification and return to the Denver facility every nine months for recurrent training required to maintain their United certifications.
“This expansion reflects the strength of a partnership built over more than four decades,” said Matthew Bromberg, President and CEO of CAE.
“We’re proud to support United with the training technology, expertise and reliability needed to prepare pilots at scale and we look forward to supporting its training needs for years to come.”
Second expansion phase planned for 2027
United’s pilot workforce and planned future growth mean the airline is already preparing to expand beyond the current campus.
In July 2026, Denver City Council approved a rezoning request covering two parcels of undeveloped land purchased by United in 2023 near Denver International Airport.
The airline has started formal planning for the site and expects construction of the next Flight Training Center facility to begin in 2027.
The new facility is expected to become operational around 2030 and will operate alongside the existing Central Park training campus.
United has invested approximately $370 million in its Denver Flight Training Center since 2016, including more than $145 million in a new building that opened in 2024.
Training center supports more than 1,600 Denver jobs
More than 1,600 of United’s 11,400-plus employees in the Denver area currently work at the Flight Training Center.
The campus supports 24 departments, covering roles including flight instruction, pilot evaluation, scheduling, recruitment, human resources and flight standards.
The training operation also generates significant demand for local accommodation. United spent nearly $40 million on Denver hotel rooms for visiting pilots in 2025 and expects that figure to approach $50 million in 2026.
The site has a long history in Denver aviation. Originally constructed between 1966 and 1968 as part of the former Stapleton Airport complex, it has served as United’s principal pilot training facility for decades.
United continues major investment in Denver hub
The training expansion is part of a much broader investment by United in Denver, which has become the airline’s fastest-growing hub.
United says it has invested nearly $1 billion at Denver International Airport since 2021.
Projects have included additional gates, a new check-in lobby and new United Club facilities, including the largest lounge currently operating in the airline’s network.
United hired more than 1,400 employees in Denver during 2025 and plans to add another 1,300 in 2026.
During summer 2026, the carrier is operating an average of around 570 daily departures from Denver, serving more than 200 destinations, including over 20 international markets.
United has hired more than 9,500 pilots since 2021
The expansion also supports the airline’s longer-term recruitment strategy.
Since launching its United Next growth programme in 2021, United has hired more than 9,500 pilots. Around 700 pilots had joined the airline so far in 2026, with hundreds of additional hires planned before the end of the year.
United recruits pilots through several channels, including direct First Officer hiring, its Aviate career development programme and the United Aviate Academy in Arizona.
The airline also operates the United Military Pilot Program, which provides eligible active-duty US military pilots with a pathway towards becoming First Officers.
Nearly 600 military pilots have transitioned to United through the programme since 2024, with another 500 expected by the end of 2027. Approximately 4,500 of United’s nearly 18,000 pilots are military veterans.
