Industry Boeing extends temporary production stop

The production operations at all Puget Sound and Moses Lake facilities will be suspended until further notice. These actions have been taken by Boeing after the United States was hit with a massive wave of new infections from the Coronavirus.

Boeing said that the health and safety of employees is continuing to be the focus for the company. Additional measures to ensure these points will be implemented by Boeing, New visual cues to encourage physical distancing, more frequent cleaning of work and common areas and staggering shift times to reduce the flow of employees arriving and departing at work will be implemented.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stan Deal commented: “The health and safety of our employees, their families and our communities is our shared priority [...] We will take this time to continue to listen to our incredible team and assess applicable government direction, the spread of the coronavirus in the community and the reliability of our suppliers to ensure we are ready for a safe and orderly return to operations.”

The company has also released, that the volunteers who have been supporting the essential site and services work will continue their assigned shifts. Every employee who is living in the Puget Sound and Moses Lake are and who can work from home should continue to do so.

“As the suspension of operations continues, Boeing will monitor government guidance and actions on COVID-19 and associated impact on all company operations. Boeing sites that remain open are being monitored and assessed on a daily basis,” Boeing confirmed.

Five days ago, Boeing announced, that the facilities in the Philadelphia area will be temporarily suspended, too. At the sites, Boeing is producing military aircraft like the H-47 Chinook, V-22 Osprey and the MH-139A Grey Wolf.

"Suspending operations at our vital military rotorcraft facilities is a serious step, but a necessary one for the health and safety of our employees and their communities," said Steve Parker, Vertical Lift vice president and general manager, and Philadelphia site senior executive. "We're working closely with government and public health officials in the tri-state region. We're also in contact with our customers, suppliers and other stakeholders affected by this temporary suspension as we assist in the national effort to combat the spread of COVID-19."

The company will release new announcements, once the situation has changed.