Boeing’s Tier 1 manufacturers in Japan have suspended 787-related operations, following the US airframer’s factory closures in the USA due to the spread of the coronavirus.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Subaru’s aerospace unit both announced the closure of their 787-related factory lines from 20 April until May.
Kawasaki’s Nagoya facility produces a large number of 787 parts, including the forward fuselage section, main landing gear well, as well as the fixed trailing edge.
The company states it will restart operations on 6 May, and that production at its other lines remain unaffected.
Meanwhile, Subaru, which produces the centre wing box for the 787, will resume operations on 11 May. Like Kawasaki its other manufacturing facilities will carry on operations.
Earlier in April, Boeing shut down both production lines in the US, as the coronavirus outbreak showed no signs of stopping.
On 6 April, the airframer announced the suspension of operations at its Charleston, South Carolina facility “until further notice”. It follows a similar announcement a day earlier for its operations in Washington state’s Puget Sound area.
It has since said that the Puget Sound area facilities, which house one of the two 787 production lines, will recommence operations from 20 April.
