Boeing Co. is set to resume production at all of its Boeing Commercial Airplanes plants in the Puget Sound region of Washington state in the week ahead, taking a phased approach to return approximately 27,000 employees to work. The various aircraft assembly plants and supporting operations have been idle since March 25, in line with efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
Boeing's North Charleston, S.C., operations remain shut down.
Most of Boeing's defense aircraft plants were restarted earlier this week. The plants comprising Boeing's 737, 747, 767, and 777 series aircraft will resume operations on April 21. Plants supporting the 787 series will resume operations on April 23.
"The health and safety of our employees, their families and communities is our shared priority," stated Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes and senior executive in the Pacific Northwest. "This phased approach ensures we have a reliable supply base; our personal protective equipment is readily available; and we have all of the necessary safety measures in place to resume essential work for our customers."
Boeing offered a list of 10 measures it has instituted at all locations, aligned with federal and state guidelines, to keep workers safe from the spread of the coronavirus, including enhanced cleaning and physical distancing.
