Boeing (BOE, Washington National) will reduce staffing in its Commercial Airplanes division by about 5% over the coming months through a combination of attrition and layoffs, the US aircraft manufacturer has confirmed.
The company said the cuts followed slower-than-expected increases in commercial aircraft production rates as it focuses on safety and operational stability. It said affected employees would receive support through outplacement services, layoff benefits, and its employee assistance programme.
"As we shared during our quarterly earnings, it has taken us longer than expected to achieve our commercial airplane production rate increases as we prioritize safety, quality, and stability. As we adjust our production plans, we are aligning staffing levels to those updated plans and the overall needs of the business," a Boeing spokesperson said.
The confirmation follows Reuters reporting that Commercial Airplanes Division chief Stephanie Pope told employees in an internal memo on November 9, 2026, that revised production schedules and lower aircraft output had left the business overstaffed.
Chief executive Kelly Ortberg said last month that the planned ramp-up of B737 MAX production had been delayed until the second half of 2027, while wing manufacturing was progressing more slowly than expected. The staffing reductions are intended to align workforce levels with production requirements and give factories and suppliers more time to stabilise operations.
