Boeing to invest $1 billion in Wichita facilities following Spirit AeroSystems acquisition
The aerospace giant will fund facility upgrades and employee training as it prepares to increase 737 Max production
WICHITA, Kan. — Boeing Co. will inject $1 billion into its newly reacquired Wichita manufacturing hub over the next three years to upgrade facilities and boost employee training, the company's chief executive announced Monday.
CEO Kelly Ortberg detailed the investment during his first official visit to Wichita since Boeing completed its acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems in December. The deal reunited Boeing with its former commercial airplane operations roughly two decades after spinning them off, bringing 13 million square feet of production space and more than 13,000 local workers back under the company's direct control, making it the city's largest employer.
The capital infusion comes as Boeing prepares to ramp up production of its 737 Max jet from 42 to 47 planes per month this summer. The Federal Aviation Administration imposed the current production cap following a series of safety and quality incidents. Wichita workers build more than 70% of the 737 Max, along with major components for every other Boeing commercial aircraft.
"All of this helps us get ready for what's ahead as we prepare for higher production rates and deliver safe, high-quality airplanes to our customers," Ortberg said at a Boeing 767 forward fuselage assembly site in Wichita.
As part of the renewed focus on workforce development, WSU Tech announced Friday it will establish a 35,000-square-foot Boeing employee training center on its south Wichita campus to teach the manufacturer's specific procedures. U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., praised the corporate commitment to the city's aviation workforce, saying the state looks forward to ensuring the funds "increase the opportunities for Kansans to have a brighter future."
State Rep. Nick Hoheisel, R-Wichita, also celebrated the announcement, calling it a major victory for the region. "Big news this morning. Boeing announced that they are investing $1 billion in Wichita over the next 3 years. Huge win for the Air Capital. More jobs, more investment, and a stronger future for our city and state," Hoheisel wrote on social media Monday.
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