United Airlines will become the only major US airline to own and run a flight training academy to prepare future pilots to supplement United’s flight crews. By 2029 the airline aims to hire over 10,000 new pilots.

The training centre United is going to acquire under already signed a purchase agreement Westwind School of Aeronautics in Phoenix, Arizona. According to a statement, this acquisition is an extension of the airline’s a pilot development and recruitment program – Aviate.

With the launch of new training facility, United expects to “increase the percentage of women and minorities who become pilots”.

In the first year of operations, the US carrier plans to educate nearly 300 students.

Apart from that, United has also partnered with ATP Flight School under the same Aviate partnership.