United Airlines (UA) and CAE have officially celebrated the completion of the first phase of expansion at the world’s largest pilot training facility, marking a major milestone in their long-standing partnership. Located in the Central Park neighborhood of Denver, United’s Flight Training Center has added 40 new CAE training devices, consisting of both full-motion and fixed simulators, since 2022. The 22-acre facility now features eight total buildings and nearly 700,000 square feet of training space — the equivalent of 12 football fields. In total, the hub houses 86 CAE training devices, which include 52 state-of-the-art full-motion flight simulators and 34 fixed training devices.
As the sole training location for United’s active fleet of nearly 18,000 pilots as well as all newly hired aviators, the facility operates 24 hours a day for 362 days a year. Every United pilot completes intensive simulator training alongside instructors and evaluators during their initial qualification, returning every nine months thereafter to maintain their certifications. The center currently holds the capacity to conduct over 32,000 training events annually and can train up to 860 pilots per day.
To commemorate the completion of phase one, United Chief Executive Officer Scott Kirby was joined in Denver by CAE President and Chief Executive Officer Matthew Bromberg, alongside other leadership figures from both organizations. Expressing pride in the milestone, Kirby highlighted the effort behind the project. “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,” according to Kirby.
The achievement also reinforces an enduring commercial relationship between the two aviation leaders. “This expansion reflects the strength of a partnership built over more than four decades,” said Bromberg. “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.”
With significant growth on the horizon, United is already preparing to enlarge the footprint of its Denver training headquarters. In July 2026, the Denver City Council approved a rezoning request for two parcels of undeveloped land that United acquired in 2023 near Denver International Airport (DEN). Formal site building plans are already underway, with groundbreaking for phase two expected to take place on the newly acquired land in 2027. The additional facility is slated to become operational around 2030 and will be operated in conjunction with the existing complex.
Originally constructed between 1966 and 1968 as part of the historic Stapleton Airport complex, the facility has served as the core training site for United pilots for decades. Overall, the airline has invested $370 million in the center since 2016, which includes more than $145 million dedicated to the new building that opened in 2024. This growth has created substantial economic impact locally, generating over 300 new jobs following the 2024 opening. Today, more than 1,600 of United’s 11,400-plus Denver-based employees work at the training center across 24 different departments, filling essential roles in flight instruction, evaluating, scheduling, pilot hiring, human resources, and flight standards.
In addition, visiting crew members generate significant local hospitality revenue. In 2025, United spent nearly $40 million on hotel room nights in Denver for pilots visiting the facility, a figure expected to rise near $50 million in 2026. This training hub expansion aligns with United’s massive overall presence in Denver, which serves as its fastest-growing hub. Since 2021, the carrier has funneled nearly $1 billion into customer experience projects at DEN, including new gates, a revamped check-in lobby, and state-of-the-art United Club lounge spaces. United hired over 1,400 local personnel last year and plans to add more than 1,300 people in 2026, while leading the airport with an average of 570 daily departures to over 200 total destinations, including more than 20 international routes.
As North America’s largest widebody fleet operator, United remains a major career destination for flight crews. Since unveiling its United Next strategy in 2021, the airline has brought on more than 9,500 pilots, including 700 hires made so far in 2026 with hundreds more planned before the year ends. To sustain this momentum, United maintains multiple recruitment pathways. These include direct First Officer hiring for experienced aviators, the United Aviate career development program, the United Aviate Academy flight school in Goodyear, Arizona, and the United Military Pilot Program launched in September 2023. Nearly 600 military pilots have transitioned to United through the military pathway since 2024, with 500 more anticipated by late 2027. Veterans currently make up 4,500 of United’s total pilot force.