United Airlines is buying a flight academy in Phoenix to help meet its need for more pilots in the future. United announced Wednesday that it is taking over the Westwind School of Aeronautics.
The school will become part of United's current pilot-training program, and the airline expects it will produce 300 graduates in its first year.
United expects to hire more than 10,000 pilots by 2029.
United and other major airlines have enough pilots today because they recruit from smaller carriers.
But those smaller operators, called regional airlines, have suffered shortages and been forced to raise pay.