Boeing employees start staggered return to work across Puget Sound this week

SEATTLE — Boeing says it will resume all commercial airplane production in phases at its Puget Sound facilities this week after suspending operations in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company says 27,000 of its employees will return to work under new measures put in place to keep people safe and fight the spread of the virus.

Boeing says there will be increased physical spacing and extra protective equipment.

Gov. Jay Inslee says his office will be reviewing the safety plans.

"I am glad that Boeing is committing to very robust social distancing protocols and the use of PPE," said Inslee.

Masks will be required and provided to workers, and a letter from the company emphasized hand washing.

The company is also asking employees to perform self health checks before coming to work and to stay at home if they're sick.

The reopening of the Boeing production lines comes before the May 4 expiration of Inslee's stay at home order, and some workers remain worried about their safety.

Robert, who asked his last name not be used, works on the 777 line in Everett and told KIRO 7 he's been talking to colleagues who are preparing to return.

"Most of them are apprehensive thinking it's too soon, and they're worried, to be honest with you, they're worried," he said.

Robert said he is planning to use his leave to stay home at least another week.

Employees for the 737, 747, 767 and 777 airplanes will return as early as Monday with most returning to work by Tuesday, company officials said. Employees for the 787 program will return Thursday and Friday.

Because of widespread flight cancellations, the coronavirus is decimating the airline industry.

Boeing already suffered a terrible year with the grounding of the 737 MAX after two crashes.

While production on the MAX will soon resume, 400 of the new planes are still undelivered.

"Out of those 400 airplanes, I don't know how many of them will be delivered in the best of circumstances, let alone the circumstances we have right now," said aviation industry consultant Scott Hamilton of the Leeham Company.

Hamilton said it is very possible Boeing will have to lay off workers as it builds fewer planes.

"This is going to be something that is the worst I have ever seen in this industry," Hamilton said. "The ripple effect for the supply chain and all of those who support the supply chain, it's going to be deep, it's going to be very painful and it's going to take years to come back. We don't see the industry returning to pre-virus levels from anywhere from four to eight years."

Boeing could provide an idea next week of how many commercial planes it intends to build.

The company’s annual meeting is scheduled for Monday and the first quarter earnings call will be held on Wednesday.

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