Boeing is to lay off 600 more staff on its 717 production line at Long Beach, California, because of slow sales. It will move to single-shift production of the 107-seat jet to reflect a smaller-than-expected order book from 2002.
The job cuts are the second tranche of 600 in three months, with the 1,200 reduction expected to be completed by the first quarter of next year. This will reduce the Long Beach Commercial Airplanes workforce to less than 4,000.
Despite a big sales effort, the 100-seat 717-200 has struggled to sell. Boeing has 136 firm orders and has delivered 72 aircraft to date.
Source: Flight International
