Boeing Decisions

Howard Stevenson’s Nov. 16 Column Left, “Boeing Learns a Lesson in Predictability,” cites “our infatuation with markets as the solution to every problem” as the source of Boeing’s current difficulties. He states that the layoff of some skilled workers in 1995 is the reason that company is now having difficulties ramping up to meet today’s boom market.

Stevenson has completely ignored Boeing’s reasons for reinventing its production methods this decade: competition from Europe’s Airbus Industrie. With over $20 billion in subsidies from member governments it will never have to pay back, Airbus has became a major player in virtually all seating-range classes of commercial airplanes. Boeing had little choice but to “take the gloves off” to counter the European strategy. Had it not done so, there might soon be no U.S. jobs building commercial planes. Boeing’s approach is a market-driven solution to a non-market threat.

ADRIAN D. LE ROY

Seal Beach