A New Era for Alaska Airlines: Enhanced Training Hub for Staff
Alaska Airlines has announced the acquisition of a new facility dedicated to its world-class training programs. The $85.75 million purchase will centralize operations and provide advanced training for flight attendants, pilots, customer service agents, and more.
This strategic move marks a significant investment in the airline’s workforce, underscoring its commitment to safety, performance, and care.
“Our remarkable operations team members will, for the first time in our history, all come together and train under one roof,” said Constance von Muehlen, chief operating officer at Alaska Airlines. “We’re excited to build on Alaska Airlines’ culture of safety, performance, and care in this purposefully-designed space worthy of our frontline team’s contributions to every guest and every flight.”
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Advanced Training Facilities
The new 600,000-square-foot facility, part of the 173-acre Longacres campus in Renton, Washington, is designed to enhance Alaska Airlines’ training capabilities. It currently houses nine full-motion flight simulators, with plans to add a tenth. The space will also feature a mock aircraft for inflight simulations, classrooms, an auditorium, a production studio, and extensive office space. Alaska Airlines plans to invest an additional $100 million in renovations.
The Longacres property, acquired from Unico Properties, is part of a vibrant, mixed-use campus with amenities such as an Arts and Entertainment District, walking and jogging trails, ponds, and scenic wetlands. It offers direct access to the Renton/Tukwila Sound Transit Station, enhancing convenience for Alaska Airlines employees.
Significant Investment in Employee Training
“This major commitment by Alaska alongside the significant investment made by the Sounders in opening its new training facility earlier this year, has created significant momentum for the mixed-use campus,” said Liz Thorson, Unico Properties Director, Market Leader. “Given these events, Renton is a bright spot in the region and we’re excited to build upon these announcements to bring other beloved Northwest brands to our exciting new community.”
Shane Jones, senior vice president of fleet, revenue products, and real estate at Alaska Airlines, highlighted the growth potential of the new facility: “The growth opportunity this purchase provides us cannot be overstated, and it really feels like a perfect match. Having access to a facility that was purpose-built for aviation training that we then get to customize was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up. As Longacres continues to be built out, our employees will have access to amenities that will truly make this a world-class training experience.”
Future Plans and Community Integration
While pilots are already utilizing the existing simulators, other employee groups will transition to the new facility following renovations towards the end of 2025. This move aligns with Alaska Airlines’ broader vision of creating an integrated, state-of-the-art training environment for all its staff.
Ned Carner, Founder of Wing Point Partners, expressed enthusiasm for the project: “It is great to see this special 173-acre campus come to life with the opening of the Sounders FC practice facility and now the thousands of Alaska Airlines employees that will frequent the site. We are one step closer to achieving our goal of an active campus that seamlessly brings the community to work, live, and recreate together.”
About Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines, along with its regional partners, serves over 120 destinations across North America. Known for its premium flying experience, award-winning customer service, and industry-leading Mileage Plan, Alaska Airlines offers extensive choices through its oneworld Alliance membership and additional global partners. For more information, visit Alaska Airlines News and follow @alaskaairnews.
About Unico Properties LLC
Unico Properties LLC, part of Unico Investment Group LLC, is a leading commercial real estate investor and developer. Founded in 1953, Unico focuses on office and multifamily assets in emerging U.S. markets, currently owning and operating 17 million square feet of commercial properties. For more details, visit Unico Properties.
About Wing Point Partners
Wing Point Partners specializes in large-scale adaptive re-use and mixed-use projects in the Pacific Northwest, revitalizing properties to create inspiring spaces. For more information, visit Wing Point Partners.
