WASHINGTON/SEATTLE (Reuters) -Boeing Co said on Thursday it will move its headquarters from Chicago to Arlington, Virginia, as the crisis-plagued U.S. planemaker works to repair relationships with customers, federal regulators and lawmakers.
Boeing also plans to develop a research and technology hub in the Arlington area, home to the Pentagon and across the Potomac River from the U.S. capital.
Senator Mark Warner of Virginia told Reuters in an interview the headquarters move “is great for bragging rights — what maybe a long-term bigger boost to (Virginia) may be the research and development center.”
Last October, Reuters reported that sources close to the company said cost cuts and a more hands-on corporate culture had raised questions about Boeing’s future in Chicago, and in turn the broad direction Boeing intends to take as it tries to regain its stride.
“The region makes strategic sense for our global headquarters given its proximity to our customers and stakeholders, and its access to world-class engineering and technical talent,” Boeing President and Chief Executive Officer Dave Calhoun said.
Boeing said it will maintain a significant presence at its Chicago location and surrounding region. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Chicago has “a robust pipeline of major corporate relocations and expansions, and we expect more announcements in the coming months.”
Boeing has been working to repair its relationship with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and lawmakers. Prior CEO Dennis Muilenburg was fired in 2019 after clashing with the FAA over its review of the 737 MAX following two fatal crashes that killed 346 people.
Boeing, a key supplier to the U.S. Defense Department, last week unveiled more than $1 billion in charges on its Air Force One and T-7A Red Hawk trainer jet programs.
Boeing has only been there a few years – took ’em this long to realize how screwed up the “D” cities are…and they left one in the Pacific Northwest…..
What we down here call stupipo!