Boeing says it’s exploring the idea of building a new mid-sized jet, and Washington state officials say they’re already lobbying the company to build it here.
The company says customers have been asking for something bigger than the 757, which is a single-aisle plane that was built in Renton from 1982 to 2005. Spokespeople for Boeing say the company is evaluating “low-risk solutions.”
Alex Pietsch oversees the governor’s office of aerospace. Speaking from the Paris Air Show, he says there are a lot of reasons why the company should produce the plane here.
"I think it’s a strong likelihood that if they move forward with an airplane like that, it’s going to have composite wings, and the company’s investing over $1 billion in Everett today building this new composite wing center," Pietsch said.
Boeing is one of the state’s biggest employers, and there are many more jobs in the supply chain. That’s why winning a new airplane program would be such a big deal for Washington’s economy.
That said, the record package of tax incentives the state offered in exchange for winning the 777X production line is still contentious. Some lawmakers have pushed to make them contingent on keeping a certain number of jobs here.
