Boeing is losing the plane race. So it packed up and left for Washington
Boeing is moving its headquarters from Chicago to a suburb of Washington, DC. But some analysts think this move is one in the wrong direction. Boeing was based in Seattle from its founding in 1916 to 2001. During its heyday it was renowned as an engineering-driven company that made the best, safest planes. But many industry watchers felt that reputation was lost as Boeing shifted to focus on the bottom line — and they point to its 2001 decision to move headquarters from Seattle to Chicago as a stark sign of that ill-advised shift. The company's Thursday announcement that it will move once again, to Arlington, Virginia, only gives critics more fuel: By moving into the shadow of both the Pentagon and Congress, Boeing seems to be signaling it has lost the commercial race to Airbus and wants to be seen as primarily a defense and space contractor. The fact that the announcement comes the same week Airbus revealed it's increasing production of commercial jets at its factory in Mobile, Alabama, only seems to drive home that point. "One company is saying 'We're going to build lots of jets.' The other is saying 'We're going to lobby the Pentagon and Congress for defense dollars.' It's a big contrast," said Richard Aboulafia, managing director at AeroDynamic Advisory and a leading aerospace analyst. Boeing said that the Arlington move is designed to bring the company closer to its "customers and stakeholders, and its access to world-class engineering and technical talent." Aboulafia isn't surprised Boeing decided to move its headquarters to Arlington, but he is disappointed. A move back to the Seattle area would have sent a strong signal that Boeing is was once again ready to embrace engineering, he added. "It would have been great for morale and shown an intent to focus on their badly neglected commercial airline products," said Aboulafia. "Imagine the power if they said 'We're going to back to our roots.' It's just disappointing. It's the road not taken." Boeing's engineering and quality problems have posed major challenges for the company. <br/>
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Boeing is losing the plane race. So it packed up and left for Washington
Boeing is moving its headquarters from Chicago to a suburb of Washington, DC. But some analysts think this move is one in the wrong direction. Boeing was based in Seattle from its founding in 1916 to 2001. During its heyday it was renowned as an engineering-driven company that made the best, safest planes. But many industry watchers felt that reputation was lost as Boeing shifted to focus on the bottom line — and they point to its 2001 decision to move headquarters from Seattle to Chicago as a stark sign of that ill-advised shift. The company's Thursday announcement that it will move once again, to Arlington, Virginia, only gives critics more fuel: By moving into the shadow of both the Pentagon and Congress, Boeing seems to be signaling it has lost the commercial race to Airbus and wants to be seen as primarily a defense and space contractor. The fact that the announcement comes the same week Airbus revealed it's increasing production of commercial jets at its factory in Mobile, Alabama, only seems to drive home that point. "One company is saying 'We're going to build lots of jets.' The other is saying 'We're going to lobby the Pentagon and Congress for defense dollars.' It's a big contrast," said Richard Aboulafia, managing director at AeroDynamic Advisory and a leading aerospace analyst. Boeing said that the Arlington move is designed to bring the company closer to its "customers and stakeholders, and its access to world-class engineering and technical talent." Aboulafia isn't surprised Boeing decided to move its headquarters to Arlington, but he is disappointed. A move back to the Seattle area would have sent a strong signal that Boeing is was once again ready to embrace engineering, he added. "It would have been great for morale and shown an intent to focus on their badly neglected commercial airline products," said Aboulafia. "Imagine the power if they said 'We're going to back to our roots.' It's just disappointing. It's the road not taken." Boeing's engineering and quality problems have posed major challenges for the company. <br/>
