History of Boeing in Timeline

Boeing is a multinational corporation and one of the world's largest aerospace manufacturers, designing and producing airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, and missiles. Founded by William E. Boeing in 1916 in Seattle, Washington, it is also a major defense contractor and the largest exporter in the United States. The company provides product support services, and its present form resulted from the 1997 merger with McDonnell Douglas. Boeing plays a significant role in both commercial aviation and defense industries.

July 15, 1916: Boeing Founded

On July 15, 1916, William E. Boeing founded The Boeing Company in Seattle, Washington, originally as Pacific Aero Products Company.

1916: Pacific Aero Products Company Founded

In 1916, William E. Boeing founded Pacific Aero Products Company in Seattle, Washington, which marked the start of The Boeing Company.

1917: Boeing Airplane Company Renamed

In 1917, Pacific Aero Products Company was renamed Boeing Airplane Company.

1928: Boeing Airplane & Transport Corporation Formed

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

1929: United Aircraft and Transport Corporation Renamed

In 1929, Boeing Airplane & Transport Corporation was renamed United Aircraft and Transport Corporation, followed by acquisitions of several aircraft makers.

1931: Four Smaller Airlines Merged into United Airlines

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

1934: Aircraft Manufacturing Required to be Separate from Air Transportation

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

1960: Boeing Buys Vertol Aircraft Corporation

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

1995: Settlement for Misconduct

In 1995, Boeing began a period of misconduct which lasted until 2021 and resulted in the company paying US$4.3 billion to settle 84 instances of misconduct.

1995: Boeing Partners 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: Boeing Announces Merger Intention with McDonnell Douglas

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

August 1, 1997: Boeing Merges with McDonnell Douglas

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

August 4, 1997: Boeing Merger with McDonnell Douglas Completed

On August 4, 1997, the merger of Boeing with McDonnell Douglas was completed, following regulatory approval and conditions set by the European Commission.

2000: Boeing Acquires Satellite Segment of Hughes Electronics

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

2001: Boeing Headquarters Moved 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 in relation to illegal hiring of government officials and improper use of proprietary information as part of a larger settlement spanning from 1995 to 2021.

2006: UCLA Study Shows Contamination at Santa Susana Field Laboratory

In 2006, a UCLA study showed that Boeing's Santa Susana Field Laboratory had been contaminated by Rocketdyne with toxic and radioactive waste.

2007: Boeing Tests Biofuels

As of 2007, Boeing had tested six fuels from companies like Brazilian biofuels maker Tecbio, Aquaflow Bionomic of New Zealand, and other fuel developers.

June 2008: Boeing Joins 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, Air New Zealand and Boeing completed a two-hour test flight using a 50–50 mixture of biofuel with Jet A-1 in a Rolls-Royce RB-211 engine of a 747–400. The engine was later studied, revealing no performance differences between the Jatropha blend and regular Jet A1.

2008: Presidential Election Contributions

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

2008: Loan Guarantees

In 2008, Boeing benefited from over US$10 billion of long-term loan guarantees from the Export-Import Bank of the United States to help finance the purchase of its commercial aircraft in various countries.

2008: Top US Federal Contractors

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

2008: Previous Strike

In 2008, Boeing workers last went on strike.

2008: Laying Off Workers

Since 2008, Boeing had laid off 14,862 workers by December 2011, while increasing executive pay.

2009: Lobbying Expenditures

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

2009: Top US Federal Contractors

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

2009: Revenue from Israeli Weapons Contracts

Research estimated that Boeing made between $50 billion to $100 billion in revenue via Israeli weapons contracts from 2009 through 2022.

2010: Operating Cash Flow Increase

Between 2010 and 2018, Boeing increased its operating cash flow from $3 to $15.3 billion by negotiating advance payments from customers and delaying payments to its 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 from 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, instead getting US$178 million in tax rebates, despite making a profit of US$9.7 billion.

2011: Average Salary at Boeing

In 2011, the average salary at Boeing was $76,784, as reported by former employees.

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 to more effectively lead the sectors they serve.

2013: Spending on Dividends and Stock Buybacks

From 2013 to 2019, Boeing spent over $60 billion on dividends and stock buybacks, twice as much as the development costs of the 787.

2013: Tax Breaks

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

2017: Deal with Saudi Arabia

In 2017 Boeing signed a deal with Saudi Arabia which included Saudi Arabia buying military aircraft and guided missile systems.

2017: Boeing Agrees to Cleanup Agreement with EPA

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

2018: Operating Cash Flow Increase

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

2018: Boeing Opens First European Factory

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

2018: First 737 MAX Crash

In 2018, a Boeing 737 MAX airplane crashed, resulting in numerous deaths.

October 2019: Separation of CEO and Board Chair Roles

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

2019: Spending on Dividends and Stock Buybacks

From 2013 to 2019, Boeing spent over $60 billion on dividends and stock buybacks, twice as much as the development costs of the 787.

2019: Second 737 MAX Crash and Grounding

In 2019, a second Boeing 737 MAX airplane crashed, leading to the worldwide grounding of all 737 MAX airliners.

2019: Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash

In 2019, there was a crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302.

January 25, 2020: Boeing 777X Makes Maiden Flight

On January 25, 2020, the Boeing 777X made its maiden flight.

May 2020: Boeing Cuts Jobs Due to COVID-19

In May 2020, Boeing cut over 12,000 jobs due to the drop in air travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, with plans for a total 10% workforce reduction.

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: Boeing Reports Loss and Plans Further Cuts

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

August 18, 2020: CEO Announces Further Job Cuts

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

September 2020: U.S. House Investigation Concludes Boeing Dismissed Concerns

In September 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives concluded its investigation and cited numerous instances where Boeing dismissed employee concerns with a 737 MAX flight stabilizing feature.

October 28, 2020: Boeing Lays Off Employees

On October 28, 2020, Boeing laid off nearly 30,000 employees due to financial losses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Boeing on Fortune Lists

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 as a result of the pandemic slump.

2020: Corporate Culture Clash After Merger

In 2020, it was reported that a clash of corporate cultures after the Boeing and McDonnell Douglas merger, with McDonnell Douglas's 'bean-counters' prevailing over Boeing's engineers, may have contributed to the 737 MAX crash crisis.

January 7, 2021: Boeing Settles Fraud Charges

On January 7, 2021, Boeing settled to pay over $2.5 billion after being charged with fraud over the company's hiding of information from safety regulators related to the 737 MAX crashes.

2021: Settlement for Misconduct

By early 2021, Boeing had agreed to pay US$4.3 billion to settle 84 instances of misconduct dating back to 1995.

2021: Second Quarter Revenue Increase

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

2021: Boeing 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 Recorded

In 2021, Boeing recorded $62.3 billion in sales.

May 5, 2022: Headquarters Relocation Announcement

On May 5, 2022, Boeing announced it would be moving its headquarters from Chicago to Arlington, Virginia, and would add a research and technology center in Northern Virginia.

May 2022: Boeing Announces Headquarters Move to Arlington

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

July 19, 2022: Boeing and Mitsubishi Renew Partnership

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

September 2022: Boeing Ordered to Pay 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: Boeing Ranked Fourth-Largest Defense Contractor

In 2022, Boeing was 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 merger with McDonnell Douglas led to the 737 MAX crashes.

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2022: Further Technical Problems and Delay for 777X

In 2022, further technical problems were discovered in the Boeing 777X, leading to another delay in its release until 2025.

2022: Revenue from Israeli Weapons Contracts

Research estimated that Boeing made between $50 billion to $100 billion in revenue via Israeli weapons contracts from 2009 through 2022.

February 2023: Boeing Announces Layoffs in Finance and HR

In February 2023, Boeing announced plans to lay off approximately 2,000 workers from its finance and human resources departments.

March 2023: Boeing Disputes Pain and Suffering of Crash Victims

In March 2023, Boeing disputed in court filings that the victims of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 (2019 crash) experienced any pain and suffering in the final six minutes as the plane was nosediving into the ground.

May 2023: Boeing Acquires 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: Decrease in Revenue and Plane Deliveries

Compared to the second quarter of 2023, Boeing's revenues decreased 15 percent to $16.9 billion and plane deliveries fell from 136 to 92 in the second quarter of 2024. The company's operating loss amounted to $1.39 billion and its net loss to $1.43 billion.

2023: Smart Bombs for Israeli Air Attacks

In 2023, Boeing sent 1,000 small diameter "smart" bombs for the first week of Israeli air attacks on Gaza. Boeing's stock prices soared due to additional Israeli weapons contracts during the Israel-Gaza war (2023-present).

January 5, 2024: Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 Door Plug Blowout

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

January 2024: Shareholder Proposes Relocation of Headquarters

After the January 2024 Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 incident, a shareholder proposed relocating Boeing's corporate headquarters back to the Seattle area.

March 2024: Justice Department Opens Criminal Investigation and CEO Announces Departure

In March 2024, the Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into the Alaska Airlines blowout and CEO Dave Calhoun announced he would be stepping down from his position.

June 2024: Boeing 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.

July 2024: Appointment of New CEO

In July 2024, Boeing announced Kelly Ortberg as its new CEO.

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 and to reinforce Boeing's position as an industry leader.

September 12, 2024: Boeing Machinists Reject Contract Offer and Vote to Strike

On September 12, 2024, Boeing machinist workers rejected a contract offer and voted to strike.

October 12, 2024: Boeing Announces Job Cuts and 777X Delay

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, including a pay rise, bonus, and reinstatement of an annual bonus scheme.

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

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

2024: Lowest Aircraft Output Since Pandemic

In 2024, Boeing delivered only 348 aircraft, its lowest output since the pandemic. Boeing ended 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 corporations to divest from. Protests against Boeing sales to Israel led to arrests at a Boeing facility in Heath, Ohio, and the student union at Washington University in St. Louis passed a resolution calling for the university to divest from Boeing.

2024: Initial estimated delivery of the Boeing 777X

In 2024, the initial estimated delivery of the Boeing 777X was delayed.

2024: Decrease in Revenue and Plane Deliveries

In the second quarter of 2024, Boeing's revenues decreased 15 percent to $16.9 billion, and plane deliveries fell to 92 (from 136 in 2023). The company's operating loss amounted to $1.39 billion and its net loss to $1.43 billion.

March 2025: Contract for Next Generation Air Dominance

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