BusinessTuesday, November 10
Boeing will cut about 5% of its commercial airplane workforce, with notices starting in December
The SEAtoday team
If you work at Boeing or for a supplier, here's where things stand. Boeing Commercial Airplanes chief Stephanie Pope told employees Monday the company will cut about 5% of the division's workforce through attrition and layoffs. NonStop Local KHQ reports significant layoffs are expected at the Renton and Everett factories, though Boeing hasn't said which locations are affected.
The reason is pace. Boeing is making about 47 737 Max jets a month and is targeting 52 a month in the second half of 2027. "Adjusting our production schedules and reducing aircraft output puts us in an overstaffed position," Pope wrote. Scott Hamilton of the Leeham Company told KIRO 7 that Renton wing production has become a bottleneck.
- Notices begin: December
- Commercial Airplanes headcount: about 50,500 at end of 2025
- Support offered: career transition services and layoff benefits
The coming cut is far smaller than Boeing's 2024 cut
Sources: KIRO 7 News Seattle, The Seattle Times
View as table
| Value | |
|---|---|
| 2024 companywide cut | 17,000 |
| Est. 5% cut | 2,500 |
Seattle Times reporter Lauren Rosenblatt told KUOW it's unclear how the cuts will hit the machinists or the engineers' union SPEEA. Both unions are trying to get more information.
Sources: The Seattle Times, NonStop Local KHQ, KOMO, CNBC, KIRO 7 News Seattle, KUOW