Boeing suspends Washington production, GE Aviation lays off thousands
Two major U.S. aviation companies on Monday announced drastic measures as the coronavirus pandemic continues to sweep the globe and hammer economic markets. Boeing said it was suspending airplane production in the Seattle area for 14 days beginning on March 25. The shutdown will take place at “sites across the Puget Sound area,” where roughly 70,000 employees work to build such aircraft as the Air Force’s KC-46 aerial refueling tanker and Navy’s P-8 Poseidon submarine hunters, according to a company statement.