United Airlines has set its sights on an ambitious recruitment drive, with plans to hire 50,000 employees between 2022 and 2025. As United seeks to grow its international presence, it aims to onboard 6,300 pilots and flight attendants, including 2,300 pilots and 4,000 flight attendants by 2023. This hiring initiative is part of the airline’s strategy to bolster its workforce as it rebuilds its network and capacity post-pandemic, ensuring seamless and efficient operations.
Preparing for the Future: Investing in Training and Infrastructure
United Airlines has taken significant steps to prepare for its expansion. Earlier this year, the airline opened its $32 million expanded cabin crew training center at Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH), providing space to train up to 8,000 new flight attendants annually. Through 2023, the carrier aims to employ 4,000 new cabin crew members, contributing to its year-end target of 15,000 hires.
To address a potential pilot shortage, United Airlines has invested over $100 million in its Denver pilot training center. The building, which broke ground in June 2022, is set to be completed by the end of 2023 and will add twelve new simulators for its Boeing and Airbus fleet. This expansion will boost the center’s current simulator capacity by up to 45% in the next few years.
Meeting the Demand for Skilled Workers Across Various Roles
United Airlines is not only focusing on hiring pilots and flight attendants. The airline is also seeking tech experts to bolster its digital operations and plans to hire up to 7,000 aircraft mechanics and technicians by 2026. This move comes in response to the expected retirement of around half of its current maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) staff in the coming years.
The airline’s hiring efforts are distributed across various locations, with 3,800 positions concentrated at Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and additional roles at its major hubs in Denver (DEN) and Houston. A significant portion of United Airlines’ tech roles will be based out of Chicago and Houston.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
United Airlines is dedicated to diversifying its workforce and supporting women in aviation. More than half of the airline’s new tech staff are women or people of color, and as of May 2023, over 120 employees have been recruited from major tech companies like Facebook, Amazon, and Google.
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