Karen Walker / Washington DC
Boeing is being offered $500 million in financial incentives if it makes Wichita, Kansas, a major development base for the proposed 7E7.
The Kansas state governor last week signed legislation enabling the proposal. Wichita mayor Carlos Mayans says the incentives would be specifically aimed at 7E7 development, not necessarily at final assembly.
Boeing has called for US states and cities to bid to be the location site for 7E7 final assembly if it goes ahead with the middle-of-the-market aircraft that would be a super-efficient replacement for aircraft in the 757/767 range. The manufacturer says it will not build the aircraft outside the USA, but wants a site "that will allow us to meet our needs most successfully".
Included in Boeing's list of criteria for its selection are total cost of doing business and "support of local, county and state governments for Boeing and its suppliers".
Snohomish county, home of Everett, where Boeing builds the 747, 767 and 777, is prohibited by Washington state laws from offering financial incentives similar to those offered by Wichita, where 75% of the 737 is assembled, and sections of other aircraft types are designed or built.
Source: Flight International
