Quite recently, Boeing reached a massive new
tentative agreement affecting over 33,000 of its employees. In its statement on the
deal, Boeing revealed it plans to build its next airliner in Washington. While no further
details on this new aircraft were disclosed, many in the industry had been anticipating
that Boeing would develop its New Midsize Airplane (NMA) - something sized between its
737 MAX 10, and 787-8 Dreamliner. Thinking logically, the designation for a new
commercial aircraft is expected to be 797. Let’s look at the details of
the new agreement for today’s video… In a news release on September 8th, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President
and CEO Stephanie Pope stated, "...this contract deepens our commitment
to the Pacific Northwest. Boeing’s roots are here in Washington. It is where generations of workers have built incredible
airplanes that connect the world ." In the video message to
employees, Pope went on to say, "And it’s why we’re excited that, as part of
the contract, our team in the Puget Sound region will build Boeing’s next new airplane. This
would go along with our other flagship models, meaning job security for generations to come. It’s
a big commitment to you and to our community. " It’s quite a commitment for Boeing. While
a decision to assemble an aircraft in Washington State two decades ago would have
been obvious, Boeing’s more recent decision to fully move 787 assembly to South Carolina
has justifiably worried company workers on the west coast. The latest agreement with
the union allows for greater job security. As noted by Reuters, the board-led strategy to
move operations to South Carolina was to reduce reliance on Washington state, where Boeing had
historically had stormy relations with unions. When it comes to a new commercial aircraft
from Boeing, up-to-date information is scarce. After all, any talk about a new
midsize airplane is years old and the planemaker MAY have decided (or will
decide later on) to change its strategy. More recently, company resources have
been diverted to more pressing issues: Addressing the fallout from the
Alaska Airlines door plug blowout, and getting aircraft like the 737 MAX 7, MAX 10,
and 777-9 certified to enter commercial service. Nonetheless, when it comes to older
discussions of Boeing’s next aircraft, the new midsize airline was anticipated to
be a twin-aisle aircraft with two variants (a 225-seater with a 5,000 NM range and
a 275-seater with a 4,450 NM range). Later, in 2020, there was speculation that
Boeing would change the design to a short-haul narrowbody that was only a little bigger than the
Boeing 737. This debate was triggered by former Airbus Americas president Barry Eccleston
(who has been critical of the program). The aircraft is expected to cost up
to $25 billion to develop. Reports in 2022 suggested its development would
be delayed until new engines mature, and as of 2024, its status remains unclear. What do YOU think of this latest news?
Are you happy to hear that Boeing will commit to assembling its next commercial aircraft in Washington State? Share your
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