26 August 2026

United and CAE Complete Phase One Expansion of World’s Largest Pilot Training Facility

United Airlines and CAE have completed phase one of an expansion at United's Flight Training Center in Denver, described as the world's largest pilot training facility, adding 40 new training devices since 2022.

A CAE full-motion flight simulator bearing United Airlines branding inside United's Flight Training Center in Denver — United Completes Phase One Expansion of World's Largest Pilot Training Facility [United Airlines / CAE]

Why this article matters
United's expanded Denver facility, now capable of training up to 860 pilots a day across 86 devices, is a direct response to sustained industry-wide pilot demand: the airline alone has hired more than 9,500 pilots since 2021. For African carriers competing for training capacity and experienced instructor talent in an increasingly global market, the scale of this investment in in-house training infrastructure by a major US legacy carrier is a useful benchmark for how the biggest global players are securing their own pilot pipeline rather than relying solely on third-party academies.

Of Interest
- United's Flight Training Center in Denver now spans nearly 700,000 square feet across eight buildings, housing 86 CAE training devices — 52 full-motion simulators and 34 fixed training devices.
- The facility can train up to 860 pilots a day and support more than 32,000 training events annually, operating 24 hours a day, 362 days a year.
- Phase two of the expansion will begin in 2027 on newly rezoned land near Denver International Airport, with operations expected to start by 2030.
- United has hired more than 9,500 pilots since launching its United Next strategy in 2021, including 700 pilots so far in 2026.

United Airlines and CAE have completed the first phase of an expansion at United's Flight Training Center in Denver, which the companies describe as the world's largest pilot training facility, adding 40 new training devices since 2022.

The centre now spans nearly 700,000 square feet across eight buildings and houses 86 CAE training devices, comprising 52 full-motion flight simulators and 34 fixed training devices. United said the facility can train up to 860 pilots a day and support more than 32,000 training events annually, operating 24 hours a day, 362 days a year.

United CEO Scott Kirby said the project reflected the airline's investment in pilot training. “United pilots are the best aviators in the world, and this project exemplifies our commitment to excellence,” he said. CAE President Matthew Bromberg said the company was “proud to support United with training technology and expertise needed to prepare pilots at scale.”

Phase two of the expansion will begin in 2027 on newly rezoned land near Denver International Airport, with operations expected to start by 2030.

The training centre expansion comes amid continued pilot hiring at United. The airline has hired more than 9,500 pilots since launching its United Next growth strategy in 2021, including 700 pilots so far in 2026.

United has invested more than US$145 million in the building that opened in 2024, and the Flight Training Center now employs 1,600 of the airline's more than 11,400 Denver-based staff. United said it hired over 1,400 Denver employees in 2025 and plans to hire 1,300 more in 2026, while pilots visiting the facility for training spent nearly US$40 million on hotel stays in the city in 2025.