Boeing reconsidering moving 757 line from Renton to Everett

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, October 18, 2001

By Bryan Corliss

Herald Writer

SEATTLE – The Boeing Co. will reconsider moving its 757 assembly line to Everett, in light of the production slowdowns following the Sept. 11 terror attacks, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Chief Executive Alan Mulally said Friday.

“We’re going to restructure Boeing,” Mulally in a speech to officials of four Puget Sound economic development agencies. “We’re going to figure out how to operate more efficiently. … We’re going to be in the phone book forever. We’re going to do whatever it takes.”

Boeing officials earlier this year had considered moving 757 production from Renton to Everett, as part of an ongoing effort to improve efficiency. The idea was tabled this summer, because of the problems involved with still meeting deadlines for delivering the planes while transferring the assembly line north.

But “When you slow up production, that’s a perfect opportunity to look at consolidation,” Mulally told told reporters after the speech. “Everything is being considered.”

More details in Saturday’s Herald.