Boeing HQ
The news about Boeing continues to center about layoffs. Adding to yesterday’s reports, stories today center on 60 plus workers in Colorado, 101 in Pennsylvania, and nearly 700 workers in the St. Louis area. These additional cuts, along with 2,199 in Washington, 220 in South Carolina and 50 in Oregon total to about 3,330 out of 17,000 expected cuts. The key question people are asking is when the management cuts begin, and whether the other shoe will drop on their job within the company. Answers will likely come in January.
Politics are coming into question with China Airlines, which has shifted its order book recently towards Boeing. Some in Taiwan are questioning whether the carrier is bending to political pressure from the US in their procurement decision-making. The carrier denies this, indicating that they also operate Airbus models and like many international airlines are seeking at 50/50 balance with the duopoly players. The fact that the question is being asked is problematic for both the airline management and Boeing, who will each come under scrutiny on future orders.
In other news, Qatar Airways is looking at taking former American Airlines A330s on a temporary basis as it continues to wait for delayed 787-9s and 777-9s from Boeing. They could pull the retired AA aircraft from the desert to return to service on regional routes after interior refurbishment on regional Qatar routes.
Finally, a new player, Natilus, has designed a new 200 seat flying body aircraft as a next generation alternative to the traditional tube and wing designs from Airbus and Boeing. They have joined a couple of existing competitors in coming up with environmentally more friendly alternatives to traditional aircraft design. Given the SAF and engine advances alone won’t reach nearer term carbon reduction goals by 2035, innovative aerodynamic designs could solve a problem for airlines and aircraft OEMs. We wish them well.
Links to today’s key news follow:
- Boeing to lay off more than 60 workers in Colorado – Colorado Public Radio
- Boeing companywide layoffs will cut 101 jobs at Delaware County facility – NBC10
- Boeing will lay off nearly 700 workers in St, Louis area by January – St.Louis Post Dispatch
- China Airlines denies political pressure over multi-billion dollar Boeing purchases – RTI
- Qatar Airways may use American Airlines retired Airbus A330 – Aviation A2Z
- Developer Natilus unveils 200-seat aircraft concept to challenge tube-and-wing supremacy – Flight Global
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