Alaska Airlines invests in new world-class training facility to support flight attendants, pilots and more

Rhea-AI Summary

Alaska Airlines has purchased a new facility at Longacres in Renton, Washington, from Unico Properties for $85.75 million, set to open in 2025. The 600,000-square-foot facility will host training for flight attendants, pilots, and other employees. The site will be renovated with an additional $100 million investment, featuring flight simulators, a mock aircraft for inflight simulations, classrooms, an auditorium, a production studio, and office space. This move aims to centralize and enhance training operations, furthering Alaska Airlines' commitment to safety and performance. The property is part of a 173-acre mixed-use campus, envisioned to include an Arts and Entertainment District, trails, ponds, wetlands, and access to the Renton/Tukwila Sound Transit Station. Alaska Airlines’ investment aligns with other developments in the area, including the Sounders FC practice facility, contributing to the growth and vibrancy of the region.

Positive

• Alaska Airlines is investing $185.75 million in a new training facility.
• The facility will centralize training for flight attendants, pilots, and other staff.
• Additional $100 million will be used for renovations to enhance the training experience.
• The site includes state-of-the-art amenities such as flight simulators, mock aircraft, classrooms, and more.
• The facility is part of a 173-acre mixed-use campus with various amenities and direct access to public transit.
• The investment aligns with ongoing developments in the area, supporting regional growth.

Negative

• The project will not be completed until 2025, indicating a long period before benefits are realized.
• The initial purchase and renovation costs are significant, totaling $185.75 million, which may impact short-term financial performance.

The Longacres facility in Renton, Wash. was purchased from Unico Properties and will open in 2025

SEATTLE, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A new future for Alaska Airlines' employees and their careers begins today with the purchase of a facility that will become home to the airline's world-class training programs. The new training hub will enhance the training experience for flight attendants, pilots, customer service agents and more, as well as centralize operations into one facility. 

"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." 

Alaska already houses nine full-motion flight simulators in the facility and has plans to add a tenth in the next few years. In addition to simulators, the new space will include a mock aircraft for inflight simulations, classrooms, an auditorium, a production studio and significant office space. 

The property is part of Longacres, which Unico Properties purchased from Boeing in December 2021 and which housed Boeing Commercial Airplane HQ in prior years. Located at 1901 Oakesdale Ave. S.W., Longacres is a 173-acre campus that is being planned for a vibrant, diversified, mixed-use campus that includes an Arts and Entertainment District, miles of walking and jogging trails, ponds and scenic wetlands, and direct access to the Renton/Tukwila Sound Transit Station.  

Alaska Airlines has purchased the 19-acre property from Unico Properties for $85.75 million, which includes the 600,000-square-foot facility that Boeing purposefully built to house an aviation training facility. Alaska plans to invest an additional $100 million to renovate the space.

"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. 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," said Liz Thorson, Unico Properties Director, Market Leader. "We're pleased to have secured in excess of 670,000 square feet of occupancy since acquiring the property in a difficult office environment throughout the country."

"We're thrilled to invest in our Puget Sound home," said Shane Jones, senior vice president of fleet, revenue products and real estate at Alaska Airlines. "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."  

While pilots already train on the campus using the existing simulators, other employee groups will begin moving into the facility following renovations towards the end of 2025. 

"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," said Ned Carner, Founder Wing Point Partners who worked with Unico to facilitate the sale. "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 and our regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Mexico. We offer our guests a premium flying experience with award-winning customer service and an industry-leading loyalty program, Mileage Plan. With our fellow oneworld Alliance members and additional global partners, our guests have more choices than ever to purchase, earn or redeem on alaskaair.com across 30 airlines and more than 1,000 worldwide destinations. Learn more about Alaska at news.alaskaair.com and follow @alaskaairnews for news and stories. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group. 

About Unico Properties LLC
Unico Properties LLC, a subsidiary of Unico Investment Group LLC, is a commercial real estate investor, developer, and full-service operator focused on office and multifamily assets in emerging markets throughout the United States. Founded in 1953, Unico has been transforming the built environment by creating innovative, people-focused building experiences through a cadre of subsidiary companies that deliver boutique expertise and institutional execution for its own accounts and select third-party clients. The private equity real estate investment firm currently owns and operates 17 million square feet of commercial properties across the United States and continues to grow. For more information about Unico, please visit the firm's website at https://unicoprop.com.

About Wing Point Partners
Wing Point Partners is a boutique real estate investment and development company that specializes in large scale adaptive re-use and mixed-use projects in the Pacific Northwest. We are dedicated to reshaping properties and spaces across the Puget Sound region. We breathe new life into overlooked and underutilized properties, infusing them with innovative ideas and designing spaces that inspire future occupants. In doing so, we elevate our communities, enhance lives and leave a lasting impact for generations to come.

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SOURCE ALASKA AIRLINES

FAQ

What is the cost of Alaska Airlines' new training facility?

Alaska Airlines is investing $85.75 million to purchase the facility and an additional $100 million for renovations.

When will the new Alaska Airlines training facility open?

The new training facility is set to open in 2025.

What amenities will be included in Alaska Airlines' new training facility?

The facility will feature flight simulators, a mock aircraft for inflight simulations, classrooms, an auditorium, a production studio, and significant office space.

Where is Alaska Airlines' new training facility located?

The new training facility is located at Longacres in Renton, Washington.

How does Alaska Airlines' new facility support its employees?

The new facility will centralize and enhance training operations for flight attendants, pilots, and other staff, promoting a culture of safety and performance.