Boeing: Machinists vote won’t affect 777X timeline

  • By Robert Wall Bloomberg News
  • Saturday, November 16, 2013 12:16pm
  • Business

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The Boeing Co. said a conflict with workers over the production site of its upgraded 777X won’t jeopardize the schedule for the widebody jet as it studies alternative factor locations and partners.

The choice of where to build the new 777X composite wing and assemble the plane will be made “over the course of the next several months,” Boeing Commercial Airplanes President Ray Conner said Saturday in Dubai. Options under consideration include other Boeing sites and outsourcing some work, he said.

“All this will be done within the context of the commitments that we have made with respect to timing and rate,” Conner said on the eve of the Dubai Air Show. “Those will be the fundamental drivers.”

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The machinists union voted against an eight-year contract extension last week that would have cut benefits while keeping 777X work in the Puget Sound region. Shifting manufacturing of Boeing’s bestselling widebody airliner elsewhere would be a blow to future aircraft production in the Seattle area, where Boeing was founded in 1916.

“It is not to say Puget Sound is completely out,” Conner said, although no further discussions with the union are planned. Boeing has time to make a decision about finding a production home, with the composite wing the pacing item, he said.

Conner said Boeing has sites with composites expertise capable of building the wing. Co-locating the work in Japan, where the 787 wing that is also made of the light-weight material takes place, is also an option, he said.

The choice of site will be contingent on numerous factors, Conner said, including production capacity, technical skills and the local tax regime.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Business

People take photos and videos as the first Frontier Arlines flight arrives at Paine Field Airport under a water cannon salute on Monday, June 2, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Water cannons salute Frontier on its first day at Paine Field

Frontier Airlines joins Alaska Airlines in offering service Snohomish County passengers.

Amit B. Singh, president of Edmonds Community College. 201008
Edmonds College and schools continue diversity programs

Educational diversity programs are alive and well in Snohomish County.

A standard jet fuel, left, burns with extensive smoke output while a 50 percent SAF drop-in jet fuel, right, puts off less smoke during a demonstration of the difference in fuel emissions on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sustainable aviation fuel center gets funding boost

A planned research and development center focused on sustainable aviation… Continue reading

Helion's 6th fusion prototype, Trenta, on display on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Helion celebrates smoother path to fusion energy site approval

Helion CEO applauds legislation signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson expected to streamline site selection process.

FILE — Jet fuselages at Boeing’s fabrication site in Everett, Wash., Sept. 28, 2022. Some recently manufactured Boeing and Airbus jets have components made from titanium that was sold using fake documentation verifying the material’s authenticity, according to a supplier for the plane makers. (Jovelle Tamayo/The New York Times)
Boeing adding new space in Everett despite worker reduction

Boeing is expanding the amount of space it occupies in… Continue reading

Katie Wallace, left, checks people into the first flight from Paine Field to Honolulu on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Executive order makes way for Paine Field expansion planning

Expansion would be a long-range project estimated to cost around $300 million.

Dick’s Drive-In announces opening date for new Everett location

The new drive-in will be the first-ever for Everett and the second in Snohomish County.

Mel Sheldon makes a speech after winning the Elson S. Floyd Award on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 in Tulalip, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mel Sheldon: Coming up big for the Tulalip Tribes

Mel Sheldon is the winner of the Elson S. Floyd Award from Economic Alliance Snohomish County

Laaysa Chintamani speaks after winning on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 in Tulalip, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Laasya Chintamani: ‘I always loved science and wanted to help people’

Chintamani is the recipient of the Washington STEM Rising Star Award.

Paul Roberts makes a speech after winning the Chair’s Legacy Award on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 in Tulalip, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Paul Roberts: An advocate for environmental causes

Roberts is the winner of the newly established Chair’s Legacy Award from Economic Alliance Snohomish County.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.