History of Boeing in Timeline

Boeing is a multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells aircraft, rockets, satellites, and missiles. It's a major global aerospace manufacturer, the fourth-largest defense contractor globally (based on 2022 revenue), and the largest exporter in the U.S. Founded by William E. Boeing in 1916, the company evolved through a merger with McDonnell Douglas in 1997, solidifying its position in the aerospace and defense industries. Boeing provides related services such as leasing and product support.

July 15, 1916: Boeing Founded

On July 15, 1916, William E. Boeing founded the Boeing Company, initially named Pacific Aero Products Company, in Seattle, Washington.

1916: Pacific Aero Products Company Founded

In 1916, William E. Boeing founded the Pacific Aero Products Company in Seattle, Washington.

1917: Company Renamed Boeing Airplane Company

In 1917, the organization was renamed Boeing Airplane Company.

1928: Boeing Airplane & Transport Corporation Formed

In 1928, William Boeing formed the Boeing Airplane & Transport Corporation.

1929: Renamed United Aircraft and Transport Corporation

In 1929, the company was renamed United Aircraft and Transport Corporation, followed by the acquisition of several aircraft makers.

1931: United Airlines Formed

In 1931, the group merged its four smaller airlines into United Airlines.

1934: Separation of Manufacturing and Transportation

In 1934, aircraft manufacturing was required to be separate from air transportation, leading to the creation of Boeing Airplane Company, United Aircraft, and United Airlines.

1960: Acquisition of Vertol Aircraft Corporation

In 1960, Boeing bought Vertol Aircraft Corporation, the biggest independent manufacturer of helicopters at the time.

1995: Partnership to Create Sea Launch

In 1995, Boeing partnered with Russian, Ukrainian, and Anglo-Norwegian organizations to create Sea Launch, a company providing commercial launch services.

December 1996: Merger Announcement with McDonnell Douglas

In December 1996, Boeing announced its intention to merge with McDonnell Douglas.

August 1, 1997: Merger with McDonnell Douglas

On August 1, 1997, Boeing merged with McDonnell Douglas, forming the present corporation.

August 4, 1997: Merger with McDonnell Douglas Completed

On August 4, 1997, the merger between Boeing and McDonnell Douglas was completed, subject to conditions from the European Commission.

2000: Acquisition of Hughes Electronics' Satellite Segment

In 2000, Boeing acquired the satellite segment of Hughes Electronics.

2001: Headquarters Move to Chicago

In 2001, Boeing's corporate headquarters moved from Seattle to Chicago.

2005: Spirit AeroSystems Established

In 2005, Spirit AeroSystems was established when Boeing spun-off its Wichita division to an investment firm.

2006: Settlement for Misconduct

In 2006, Boeing agreed to pay US$615 million to settle issues relating to illegal hiring of government officials and improper use of proprietary information.

2006: Release of UCLA Study on Contamination

In 2006, the UCLA Center for Environmental Risk Reduction released a study showing that Boeing's Santa Susana Field Laboratory had been contaminated by Rocketdyne with toxic and radioactive waste.

2007: Testing of Biofuels

As of 2007, Boeing had tested six fuels from companies such as Tecbio and Aquaflow Bionomic, and expected to test 20 fuels in total.

June 2008: Joined Algal Biomass Organization

In June 2008, Boeing joined other aviation-related members in the Algal Biomass Organization (ABO).

December 30, 2008: Biofuel Test Flight

On December 30, 2008, a two-hour test flight was completed using a 50–50 mixture of biofuel and Jet A-1 in a Rolls-Royce RB-211 engine of a 747–400. The engine was then studied to identify any differences between the Jatropha blend and regular Jet A1, and no effects on performance were found.

2008: Benefited from Loan Guarantees

In 2008, Boeing benefited from over US$10 billion of long-term loan guarantees to help finance the purchase of their commercial aircraft.

2008: Top US Federal Contractor

In 2008, Boeing was second on the list of Top 100 US Federal Contractors, with contracts totaling US$22 billion.

2008: Campaign Contributions

In the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama received US$197,000 in campaign contributions from Boeing employees and executives.

2008: Laying Off Workers

Since 2008, Boeing laid off 14,862 workers.

2008: Last Strike

The 2024 strike was the first strike from Boeing workers since 2008.

2009: Revenue Via Israeli Weapons Contracts

From 2009 through 2022, research has estimated Boeing made between $50 billion to $100 billion in revenue via Israeli weapons contracts.

2009: Lobbying Expenditures

In 2009, Boeing spent US$16.9 million on lobbying expenditures.

2009: Top US Federal Contractor

In 2009, Boeing was second on the list of Top 100 US Federal Contractors, with contracts totaling US$23 billion.

2010: Increased Operating Cash Flow

Between 2010 and 2018, Boeing increased its operating cash flow from $3 to $15.3 billion by negotiating advance payments and delaying payments to suppliers.

2010: Executive Pay Increase

In 2010, Boeing increased executive pay by 31% to US$41.9 million for its top five executives.

December 2011: Criticism by Public Campaign

In December 2011, Public Campaign criticized Boeing for spending US$52.29 million on lobbying and not paying taxes from 2008 to 2010, despite making a profit of US$9.7 billion.

2011: Average Salary

In 2011, the average salary at Boeing was $76,784.

February 2012: Partnership with Insight Labs

In February 2012, Boeing Global Corporate Citizenship partnered with the Insight Labs to develop a new model for foundations.

2013: Dividends and Stock Buybacks

From 2013 to 2019, Boeing spent over $60 billion on dividends and stock buybacks.

2013: Highest Tax Breaks

In 2013, Boeing secured the highest-ever tax breaks at the state level.

2017: Cleanup Agreement with the EPA

In 2017, Boeing agreed to a cleanup agreement with the EPA regarding the contamination at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory.

2017: Deal with Saudi Arabia

In 2017, Boeing signed a deal with Saudi Arabia which included the sale of military aircraft and guided missile systems.

2018: Increased Operating Cash Flow

Between 2010 and 2018, Boeing increased its operating cash flow from $3 to $15.3 billion by negotiating advance payments and delaying payments to suppliers.

2018: First European Factory Opens

In 2018, Boeing opened its first factory in Europe, located in Sheffield, UK, along with a research partnership with the University of Sheffield.

2018: 737 MAX Crashes

In 2018, a Boeing 737 MAX narrow-body passenger airplane crashed, resulting in fatalities. This event marked the beginning of the 737 MAX crisis.

October 2019: Separation of CEO and Chair Roles

In October 2019, Boeing separated the roles of chair of the board and CEO.

2019: Dividends and Stock Buybacks

From 2013 to 2019, Boeing spent over $60 billion on dividends and stock buybacks.

2019: Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash

In 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed.

2019: Second 737 MAX Crash and Grounding

In 2019, a second Boeing 737 MAX crashed, leading to the worldwide grounding of all 737 MAX airliners by aviation regulators and airlines.

January 25, 2020: Maiden Flight of the 777X

On January 25, 2020, the Boeing 777X, the company's largest capacity twin jet, made its maiden flight but also experienced problems.

May 2020: Job Cuts Due to Pandemic

In May 2020, Boeing cut over 12,000 jobs due to the drop in air travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.

June 2020: FAA Finds 737 MAX Defects

In June 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) found several 737 MAX defects that Boeing deferred to fix, violating regulations.

July 2020: Reported Loss and Planned Cuts

In July 2020, Boeing reported a $2.4 billion loss due to the pandemic and the Boeing 737 MAX groundings, leading to more job and production cuts.

August 18, 2020: Announcement of Further Job Cuts

On August 18, 2020, CEO Dave Calhoun announced further job cuts at Boeing.

September 2020: House Investigation Findings on 737 MAX

In September 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives concluded its investigation and cited numerous instances where Boeing dismissed employee concerns, prioritized deadlines over safety, and lacked transparency regarding the 737 MAX.

October 28, 2020: Significant Layoffs

On October 28, 2020, nearly 30,000 employees were laid off as Boeing continued to lose money due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Fortune Rankings

In 2020, Boeing was ranked 54th on the Fortune 500 list and 121st on the Fortune Global 500 list.

2020: Second Quarter Revenue

In 2020, Boeing's second quarter revenue was $11.8 billion due to the pandemic slump.

2020: Culture Clash Post-Merger

In 2020, it was reported that after the Boeing and McDonnell Douglas merger, a clash of corporate cultures led to a focus on cost-cutting over engineering, potentially contributing to the 737 MAX crisis.

January 7, 2021: Settlement for Fraud Charges

On January 7, 2021, Boeing settled to pay over $2.5 billion after being charged with fraud for hiding information from safety regulators regarding the 737 MAX.

2021: 777X Delivery Delayed

Following an incident during flight testing in 2021, the estimated first delivery of the Boeing 777X was delayed until 2024.

2021: Boeing's Sales

In 2021, Boeing recorded $62.3 billion in sales.

2021: Second Quarter Revenue Increase

In 2021, Boeing's second quarter revenue increased by 44%, reaching nearly $17 billion due to higher sales and an influx in deliveries of commercial jetliners.

May 5, 2022: Headquarters Relocation

On May 5, 2022, Boeing announced that it would be moving its headquarters from Chicago to Arlington, Virginia.

May 2022: Headquarters Transfer to Arlington

In May 2022, Boeing announced plans to transfer its global headquarters from Chicago to Arlington, Virginia.

July 19, 2022: Renewed Partnership with Mitsubishi

On July 19, 2022, Boeing announced a renewed partnership with Mitsubishi to produce carbon-neutral and sustainable solutions.

September 2022: Further Fine for Misleading Investors

In September 2022, Boeing was ordered to pay a further $200 million over charges of misleading investors about safety issues related to the 737 MAX crashes.

2022: Leadership Structure

As of 2022, Boeing is headed by a President who also serves as the chief executive officer.

2022: Revenue Via Israeli Weapons Contracts

From 2009 through 2022, research has estimated Boeing made between $50 billion to $100 billion in revenue via Israeli weapons contracts.

2022: Ranked Fourth-Largest Defense Contractor

In 2022, Boeing was ranked as the fourth-largest defense contractor in the world based on revenue.

2022: Downfall: The Case Against Boeing Released

In 2022, Netflix released "Downfall: The Case Against Boeing", an exposé claiming the Boeing corporate merger with McDonnell Douglas led to the 737 MAX crashes through a disintegration of workplace morale.

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2022: Further Technical Problems and Delay for 777X

In 2022, after further technical problems were discovered in the aircraft, the release of the Boeing 777X was delayed again until 2025.

February 2023: Plans for Worker Layoffs

In February 2023, Boeing announced plans for laying off approximately 2,000 of its workers from finances and human resources.

March 2023: Boeing Disputes Pain and Suffering Claims

In March 2023, Boeing disputed in court filings that the victims of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 (2019 crash) experienced any pain and suffering during the final moments of the 737 MAX crash.

May 2023: Acquisition of Wisk Aero

In May 2023, Boeing acquired autonomous eVTOL air taxi startup Wisk Aero.

2023: Corporate Headquarters Location

As of 2023, the Boeing Company's corporate headquarters is located in the Crystal City neighborhood of Arlington County, Virginia.

2023: Weapons Contracts and Protests

In 2023, Boeing sent 1,000 small diameter bombs for the first week of Israeli air attacks on Gaza. Boeing's stock prices soared, while demonstrations occurred at Boeing facilities due to violations of international humanitarian law by Israel. Students called for their institutions to break partnerships with Boeing.

2023: Revenue Compared to 2024

In the second quarter of 2024, Boeing's revenues decreased 15 percent to $16.9 billion compared to the same time period in 2023. Plane deliveries also fell to 92 from 136 in 2023.

January 5, 2024: Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 Incident

On January 5, 2024, on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, a door plug blowout occurred on a 737 MAX 9 jetliner, leading to an emergency landing and the grounding of 171 aircraft.

January 2024: Shareholder Proposal to Relocate Headquarters

After the January 2024 Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 incident, a shareholder proposed relocating the corporate headquarters back to the Seattle area, but the board dismissed the attempt.

March 2024: Justice Department Opens Criminal Investigation and CEO/Chairman to Step Down

In March 2024, the Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into the Alaska Airlines blowout. Also in March 2024, CEO Dave Calhoun and board chairman Larry Kellner both announced they would be stepping down from their positions.

June 2024: Agreement to Re-acquire Spirit AeroSystems

In June 2024, Boeing agreed to re-acquire Spirit AeroSystems, its longtime supplier of airplane parts, for $4.7 billion, with the deal being closed on June 30.

July 2024: New CEO Announcement

In July 2024, Boeing announced a new CEO, Kelly Ortberg.

August 8, 2024: Meeting with FAA Administrator

On August 8, 2024, Boeing's new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, met with FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker to discuss the company's future direction.

September 12, 2024: Workers Reject Contract Offer, Vote to Strike

On September 12, 2024, Boeing machinist workers, members of the IAM labor union, overwhelmingly rejected a contract offer and voted to strike.

October 12, 2024: Plans to Cut 17,000 Jobs and Delay 777X Deliveries

On October 12, 2024, Boeing announced plans to cut 17,000 jobs, delay the first deliveries of its 777X airliner by a year, and recorded $5 billion in losses in the third quarter.

November 1, 2024: IAM Endorses Improved Contract Offer

On November 1, 2024, the IAM endorsed an improved contract offer which included a 38% pay rise, a $12,000 ratification bonus, and the reinstatement of an annual bonus scheme.

November 5, 2024: Workers Accept Pay Deal, Ending Strike

On November 5, 2024, Boeing workers accepted the pay deal, ending a seven-week-long walk out.

2024: Delayed delivery of 777X

Following an incident during flight testing in 2021, the estimated first delivery of the Boeing 777X was delayed until 2024.

2024: Lowest Aircraft Output

In 2024, Boeing delivered just 348 aircraft to its customers, its lowest output since the COVID-19 pandemic, ending the year with a backlog of 5,595 unfilled orders.

2024: Protests and Divestment Calls

In 2024, students on hunger strike at Brown University named Boeing among the list of corporations to divest from. Protesters were arrested after blocking entrances to a Boeing facility in Heath, Ohio, and the student union at Washington University in St. Louis passed a resolution calling on the university to divest from Boeing.

2024: Revenue Decrease

In the second quarter of 2024, Boeing's revenues decreased 15 percent to $16.9 billion compared to the same time period in 2023. Plane deliveries also fell to 92 from 136 in 2023.

March 2025: Contract for Next Generation Air Dominance

In March 2025, Boeing was awarded a contract to build the U.S. Air Force's most sophisticated fighter, known as Next Generation Air Dominance, in a contract worth more than $20 billion.