Announcement comes on top off 35,000 layoffs already set

SEATTLE, July 17 - The Boeing Co. plans to cut 4,000 to 5,000 more jobs than previously planned from its commercial airplane division by the end of the year, as the airline industry remains mired in the worst downturn in its history.

The cuts will come through attrition and layoffs, Boeing spokesman Bill Cogswell said Thursday. Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Boeing had said it would need to cut 35,000 from its work force by the end of 2003.
Now, with the continuing aviation slump, worsened by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak this year, Boeing believes it needs to further slash its employment levels, Cogswell said.

"The industry still is in trouble and we continue to have to monitor the situation closely and update our plans accordingly and size production to meet the demand," he said. The additional cuts disclosed Thursday represent up to 8 percent of the commercial airplane division\ufffds work force of 61,000.