A new chapter for Alaska Airlines’ employees and their careers begins today with the acquisition of a facility that will serve as the hub for the airline’s world-class training programs. This new training center will enhance the educational experience for flight attendants, pilots, customer service agents, and more, while consolidating operations into one central location.

“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.”

Currently, the facility houses nine full-motion flight simulators, with plans to add a tenth in the coming years. Beyond the simulators, the space will feature a mock aircraft for inflight simulations, classrooms, an auditorium, a production studio, and extensive office areas.

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

Alaska Airlines purchased the 19-acre property from Unico Properties for $85.75 million, including a 600,000-square-foot facility originally built by Boeing for aviation training. Alaska Airlines 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.”

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