Boeing Saved

 I wonder how much money Boeing "saved" by moving some of their production to South Carolina?  You know, where those pesky unions aren't such a bother.

Boeing C.E.O. to Step Down in Major Reshuffle at Embattled Plane Maker

"The aircraft maker has been under mounting pressure from regulators, airlines and passengers as the company struggled to respond to the fallout from an incident in early January in which a panel blew off a Boeing 737 Max 9 plane midair during an Alaska Airlines flight.

The incident has roiled the company, considered by many to be a prized American institution, and renewed concerns about its commitment to safety and quality five years after two crashes of 737 Max 8 planes killed a total of nearly 350 people."

Oh wait, wrong story.  Here.

Boeing plans to relocate its headquarters to Virginia from Chicago.

"The move follows efforts by Boeing, the leading U.S. exporter, to reduce costs. The company sold a number of office parks, warehouses and unused land last year, including its commercial airplane headquarters in Seattle for $100 million."

"Boeing moved into a 36-floor skyscraper in Chicago in 2001 after the city, Cook County and the State of Illinois promised $60 million in tax breaks and incentives over 20 years."

(Checks date of story: May 5, 2022. Dang! 20 years and change.) I didn't know they were leaving Chicago. I am so far behind. And I still haven't gotten the right story. Curses!

A Takeoff, and Hope, for Boeing Dreamliner

"As Boeing has changed its manufacturing methods, it has also changed its relationship with the Seattle region. The company moved its executive offices to Chicago in 2001, and this fall it announced that it would open a second 787 plant in South Carolina. The company has had ongoing disputes with labor unions in the Seattle area, and many people here worry that it will reduce its presence in Washington State."


Back when I was in aviation, I'd hear things.  "Boeing is moving to Chicago because the money guys are now running the company instead of the engineers."  "Boeing is moving some production to South Carolina just to get some leverage on their unions."  I didn't know if these things were correct.  I didn't know if they'd matter -- in the long run.

Now I do. 

If you don't understand how important Boeing is to the United States of America, you should learn.

"The Boeing Company  is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, and missiles worldwide.  The company also provides leasing and product support services. Boeing is among the largest global aerospace manufacturers; it is the fourth-largest defense contractor in the world based on 2022 revenue  and is the largest exporter in the United States by dollar value."

Don Brown
March 29, 2024