Press release
United Opens Expanded and Newly Renovated Global Inflight Training Center in Houston
$32 million expansion project doubles size of facility and features more classroom and training spaces, cabin and door trainers and a state-of-the-art aquatic
About this update from United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"$32 million expansion project doubles size of facility and features more classroom and training spaces, cabin and door trainers and a state-of-the-art aquatic center to practice safe evacuation of the plane in unlikely water landings\nNew facility reflects United's continued investments in infrastructure, technology and tools to support growth – airline on track to hire 15,000 people in 2023, including 4,000 flight attendants\nAccording to a new study, United's IAH hub and spending by foreign visitors to Houston on United and Star Alliance member flights support an estimated $5.3 billion per year in gross domestic product in Texas and in 2022 United's direct employment in Houston contributed $1.2 billion to economic activity\nHOUSTON, Jan. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- United today opened in Houston its largest Inflight Training Center, a 56,000 sq. ft. facility that includes new classrooms, additional cabin and door trainers and a state-of-the-art aquatic center that features a 125,000-gallon pool and mock fuselage to practice the safe evacuation of the plane in the unlikely event of a water landing. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner joined United CEO Scott Kirby at a ceremonial ribbon cutting event in Houston to officially open the new training center.\nThe $32 million expansion project more than doubles the available training space and supports the airline's plan to hire and train a total of 15,000 people in 2023, including 4,000 flight attendants.\nUnited plans to train more than 600 flight attendants per month at the newly expanded Houston facility and the expansion project is another example of United's focus on long-term investments in infrastructure, tools and technology to support its United Next growth plan as well as the airline's continued commitment to Houston.\n\"The best flight attendants in the industry deserve the best, most modern training facility in the country,\" said United CEO Scott Kirby. \"This expansion project is yet another example of an investment we made during the depths of the pandemic that will support our employees, further improve our ability to deliver great service and set United up for success in 2023 and beyond.\"\nNew United flight attendants will go through a six-week and a half training course at the Houston facility and then return every 18 months to stay cu...