Boeing’s union accepts contract offer, ending strike | Fast Company

November 6, 2024November 5, 2024 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Factory workers at Boeing voted to accept a contract offer and end their strike after more than seven weeks, clearing the way for the aerospace giant to resume production of its bestselling airliner and generate much-needed cash.

Leaders of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers district in Seattle said 59% of members who cast ballots agreed to approve the company’s fourth formal offer and the third put to a vote. The deal includes a 38% wage increase over four years, and ratification and productivity bonuses.

However, Boeing refused to meet strikers’ demand to restore a company pension plan that was frozen nearly a decade ago.

Boeing withdraws 30% pay rise offer to striking workers | BBC

October 10, 2024October 9, 2024 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Boeing says it has withdrawn its pay rise offer to striking workers after negotiations with union representatives reached a stalemate.

The aviation giant accused the union of not giving its proposals serious consideration.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union (IAM) said Boeing was “hell-bent on standing on the non-negotiated offer” which it says was rejected by its members.

Last month, Boeing announced what it called its “best and final” offer to workers, which proposed a 30% rise over four years – lower than the 40% being demanded by the union.

How do we solve a problem like Boeing? | CNN Business

March 15, 2024March 14, 2024 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

It took decades for Boeing to build a reputation as one of the most reliable companies on the planet. It’s taken less than six years to undo it all and leave the once-great American company facing an uncertain future.

Regulators, airlines, fliers and even Boeing’s own workers are practically in revolt after a series of mid-flight disasters and a steady erosion of the company’s quality standards. Investors are none too thrilled, either: Boeing’s stock (BA) is down 27% for the year, making it the second-worst performer in the S&P 500, behind Tesla.

The latest headache for Boeing came Monday, when a 787 Dreamliner flying from Australia to New Zealand plunged suddenly mid-flight, injuring several passengers. It’s not clear what, if any, culpability Boeing has here — it said it’s gathering information about what went wrong. But the accounts from passengers are hardly flattering at a moment when Boeing is already under federal investigation for the Jan. 5 door-plug blowout.

Virgin Galactic aims for 400 flights a year with two new ‘motherships’ | TechCrunch

July 7, 2022July 6, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Virgin Galactic is gearing up to take more tourists to the edge of space, working with Boeing to build two new “motherships” that will take the rocket-powered spaceplanes to launch altitude. It’s all part of the plan to hit 400 flights a year: every day and twice on Sundays, perhaps.

VG’s approach, which has been performed a few times with test crews and founder Richard Branson himself aboard, has the spacecraft strapped to the belly of a larger, custom aircraft, which gives the former a running start and skips the necessity of rocket acceleration through the densest part of the atmosphere.

Boeing Slashes Over 12,000 Jobs, With More Cuts Coming | Forbes

May 27, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Boeing announced Wednesday that the company is cutting over 12,000 jobs—most of those in the Seattle area—as the beleaguered air manufacturer deals with the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic that’s at times seen air travel drop over 90% compared to 2019.

The company plans to lay off 6,770 U.S. workers this week, with another 5,520 workers being asked to take buyouts in coming weeks.

Boeing to temporarily halt 737 Max production in January | BBC News

December 17, 2019December 16, 2019 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Boeing will temporarily halt production of its troubled 737 Max airliner in January, the manufacturer said.

Production of the jet had continued despite the model being grounded for nine months after two deadly crashes.

More than 300 people died when two 737 Max aircraft crashed in Indonesia and Ethiopia after reported problems with a new feature.

Boeing reports no orders for second straight month | CNN

June 13, 2019June 11, 2019 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Boeing reported no new commercial aircraft orders in May. It was the second straight month that Boeing’s orders were at a standstill in the face of the 737 Max crisis.

The drop in orders isn’t only because of the grounding of the 737 Max. Boeing also has a massive backorder of about 5,000 planes. Many of its customers do not need to place orders for additional jets right now.

Next week is also the Paris Air Show, the key industry trade show for the year, at which Boeing and rival Airbus typically like to announce orders. So May is often a slower month for new orders.

Boeing hypersonic jet could make for 2 hour transatlantic flights | Mashable

June 28, 2018 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

A passenger jet flying at hypersonic speeds could revolutionize air travel by cutting down a transatlantic flight from New York to London from seven hours to two.

Er, theoretically, that is.

Boeing is still trying to figure out how any of this will all actually happen, but the aircraft manufacturing company does have its eye on a launch date. If the company has its way, it’ll get these hypersonic jets in the air in about 20 to 30 years from now — which, coincidentally, is about as long as every layover in Chicago O’Hare feels.