Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA) has restarted production of all airplane programs previously halted by a machinists’ strike in the Pacific Northwest.
What Happened: The company confirmed that it resumed production of its popular 737 MAX jetliner earlier in December, following the conclusion of a seven-week strike involving 33,000 factory workers, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
Production of wide-body aircraft, including the 767 and 777/777X models, has resumed in Everett, Washington. Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stephanie Pope announced the resumption on social media, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that manufacturing employees are up-to-date with training and certifications. She also mentioned optimizing inventory levels for smooth production.
Last week, Boeing reported delivering only 13 commercial jets in November, a significant drop from the 56 delivered in the same month the previous year. This decrease followed the production shutdown during the strike.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to increase oversight as production resumes, with FAA head Mike Whitaker expressing satisfaction with Boeing’s cautious restart. Whitaker had previously limited 737 MAX production due to safety concerns.
Why It Matters: The resumption of Boeing’s production comes amid a challenging period for the aerospace giant. In November, Boeing announced layoffs affecting 17,000 employees, a move aimed at stabilizing its financial position.
These layoffs, representing 10% of the company’s global workforce, were part of a broader strategy to address financial difficulties, including inconsistent stock performance and production delays.
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