Boeing [BA] moved up the timing for closing its C-17 production line to mid-2015, an adjustment of approximately three months from an initial estimate of late 2015, according to a company statement.
Plans to end the C-17 production line would also shutter the company’s Long Beach, Calif., C-17 final assembly facility after a two-decade production run. Boeing announced in September plans to end C-17 production. Boeing said it expects inventory-related charges of approximately $50 million as a result of this announcement.
Boeing said it based its decision on current market trends and the timing of expected orders. The company said in September its decision to end C-17 production was based on buying signals from international customers (Defense Daily, Sept. 20
).