Boeing is to cut about 5% of its commercial aeroplane workforce as production of its 737 Max aircraft recovers more slowly than expected, with notifications for involuntary layoffs due to begin in December.
The reductions will be made through a combination of staff attrition and redundancies, Stephanie Pope, president of Boeing’s commercial aircraft unit, said in a memo to employees.
The company is continuing efforts to stabilise production of the 737 Max, which is built at its manufacturing facility outside Seattle. Boeing has been attempting to maintain output at about 47 aircraft a month.
Kelly Ortberg, Boeing’s chief executive, told investors last month that production would not be significantly increased until the second half of next year. He said wing manufacturing had been slower than anticipated.
“Adjusting our production schedules and reducing aircraft output puts us in an overstaffed position,” Ms Pope said. “Unfortunately, that means we need to align our staffing levels to our revised business plan, resulting in a reduction of approximately 5% through a combination of attrition and involuntary layoffs, with notifications beginning in December.”
Boeing is targeting production of 52 737 Max aircraft a month in the second half of 2027, compared with the current effort to stabilise output at roughly 47 a month.
