Boeing to resume commercial plane production April 20 with new measures to avoid coronavirus

Boeing plans to resume commercial aircraft production at its Seattle-area factories as early as April 20 with new physical-distancing measures aimed at avoiding the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The largest U.S. planemaker had suspended production at those factories three weeks ago driven by stay-at-home orders in Washington state. It later announced it would temporarily shut down production at its South Carolina factory where it manufactures wide-body 787 jetliners, a move that effectively halted Boeing’s commercial aircraft assembly.

Boeing’s chief executive Dave Calhoun, in a note to staff, cheered the progress airlines made toward securing billions in government aid to help soften the blow from the coronavirus. The pandemic has sent U.S. air travel demand down 95 percent from a year ago.