United Airlines is expanding its training capabilities by commencing construction of its new $16 million inflight training center near its hub at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
The new training center is set to provide safety and service training for up to 650 United flight attendants every month.
United's new 20,000-square-foot state-of-the-art inflight training center in Fairfax County, Virginia, is scheduled to open in 2025.
The new facility will feature classrooms, cabin and door trainers, and a mock fuselage designed for practicing safe aircraft evacuations and handling various emergency scenarios.
Commenting on the news, John Slater, United's Senior Vice President of Inflight Services, said:
"At United, we have the industry's best flight attendants, and we're thrilled to be opening a new best-in-class facility in support of their ongoing training right in the backyard of our Washington Dulles hub."
The airline claims that United is the DC region's largest carrier, offering more flights and destinations than any other airline.
Therefore, the investment in the new training facility in the DC area is a natural step in the airline's expansion. It is worth noting that the carrier started its operations at Washington Dulles Airport nearly 40 years ago.
Commenting on the United's investment project, Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA), said:
"We are excited and honored that United has chosen to locate their new, state-of-the-art training facility in Fairfax County. We look forward to continuing to support United in their growth journey as they ramp up their efforts to upskill, reskill, and train the talent pool of the future."
Indeed, United has recently made adjustments to its domestic route network. The airline has reduced some routes from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) while increasing capacity on several routes operating from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
United Airlines is currently on a hiring spree. It aims to hire more than 10,000 pilots over the coming decade to keep up with increases in travel demand and replace those who are due to retire.
United Airlines is actively recruiting cabin crew members alongside pilots to support its growing team.
The new training center will meet the ongoing training requirements of the airline's expanding flight attendant workforce.
It will serve as the primary training hub for flight attendants operating from United's Washington, DC-area airports, including Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).
As United expands its flight attendant team in the years ahead, the airline says that this facility demonstrates its dedication to offering state-of-the-art training resources and comprehensive support. Slater added:
"This new training center is yet another step in our long-term investment in our people and our commitment to growth here in the Greater Washington region."
