Alaska Airlines today (November 16) started a new route connecting Boeing’s two main airliner assembly destinations. The airline is expanding its Seattle/Tacoma hub with new service from Seattle to Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston is the seventh new city the carrier has added this year, following last month’s start of service from Seattle/Tacoma to Raleigh/Durham.
Flights will be operated with Next Generation 737 aircraft four days a week.
Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston) has released this statement in regards to possible unionization of its South Carolina Boeing 787 workforce by the IAM:
Boeing was notified on March 16 that the International Association of Machinists (IAM) union has petitioned the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for a union election at the company’s North Charleston, S.C., facilities.
If the NLRB permits it, a vote will be scheduled for eligible teammates to decide whether they will turn over their rights to the IAM or keep a direct relationship with the company.
“Boeing South Carolina teammates have done what so many people said couldn’t be done. And they did it by working together, engaging every day, and truly committing themselves to the success of our site,” said Beverly Wyse, Boeing South Carolina’s newly appointed vice president and general manager. “And let’s be really clear, the IAM was not part of this success โ it was our BSC teammates. In fact, the IAM aggressively opposed it, as publicly demonstrated by their filing of a claim with the National Labor Relations Board, to try to keep our site from even opening. Now, simply by filing this petition, the same union that tried to take our jobs and our work, has already begun to divide our team at a time when we’re just beginning to gel and catch a solid rhythm in production.”
Boeing firmly believes that a union is not in the best interest of Boeing South Carolina teammates and their families, their communities, and the state of South Carolina, especially after years of the IAM insulting the abilities of Boeing South Carolina teammates and fighting against BSC’s success.
“We think our Boeing South Carolina teammates deserve to pave their own future and keep their hard-earned money in their own pockets,” said Wyse. “In fact, they’ve been very successful doing just that for the past five years. They’ve built not only new airplanes, but also a new site, and new opportunities for an incredible future here in South Carolina by working together as a team, without the distractions of a union. We’re extremely proud of what our teammates have accomplished.”
Boeing South Carolina has established several outlets to keep teammates, their families and the community updated throughout this process, including a website and Facebook page that provides information, facts, data, and additional resources related to the IAM’s unionizing efforts in South Carolina.
Porter Airlines (Toronto) is introducing weekly seasonal service between its Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport base and Charleston, South Carolina from February 14 to May 2, 2015.
The new South Carolina service (the company previously operated to Myrtle Beach) will supplement regular service to these US cities (below):
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) C-GLQO (msn 4270) arrives in Washington (Dulles) (all others by Porter).
Porter Airlines aircraft slide show:
Video: In April 2013 Porter laid out its expansion lans for its home downtown airport:
Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston) has issued this statement:
Boeing started final assembly of the 787-9 Dreamliner at its South Carolina facility. The team began joining large fuselage sections of the newest 787 November 22 on schedule, a proud milestone for the South Carolina team and another sign of stability for the program.
The North Charleston, S.C., site joins Boeing’s Everett, Washington, final assembly, which began 787-9 production in May 2013. United Airlines will take delivery of the first South Carolina-built 787-9.
The 787-9 complements and extends the 787 family, offering airlines the ability to grow routes opened with the 787-8. With the fuselage stretched by 20 feet (6 meters), the 787-9 can fly up to 40 more passengers an additional 450 nautical miles (830 kilometers) with the same exceptional environmental performance โ 20 percent less fuel use and 20 percent fewer emissions than the airplanes it replaces. The 787-9 leverages the visionary design of the 787-8, offering passenger-pleasing features such as large, dimmable windows, large stow bins, modern LED lighting, higher humidity, a lower cabin altitude, cleaner air and a smoother ride.
Copyright Photo: Steve Bailey/www.vrefphotos.com/AirlinersGallery.com). United Airlines is already operating the stretched 787-9 Dreamliner, previously delivered from the Seattle area. Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner N38950 (msn 36401) taxies at Boeing Field in Seattle.
United Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery):ย 
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