WICHITA (AP) – The Boeing Co. has told its employees that it plans to close its massive defense plant in Wichita by the end of 2013 in a bid to cut costs in a tight market for defense
spending.

Wednesday’s announcement means the loss of 2,100 well-paying jobs at its Kansas facility, which was once considered the centerpiece of Wichita’s claim as the air capital of the world.

It also dashes hopes for an additional 7,500 direct and indirect jobs that the company once promised to bring to Wichita with the Air Force air refueling tanker contract.

The work will move to Boeing facilities in Texas, Oklahoma and Washington.

Job reductions at the Wichita facility are scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2012.

U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) Wednesday issued the following statement regarding the decision by the Boeing Company to close the Boeing Defense, Space & Security facility in Wichita:

“I have been honored to represent and work hard for Boeing and their talented employees for more than a decade, including helping to wage a long, but successful fight to win back the tanker contract.

“Boeing’s chairman sat in my office 22 months ago during that battle and promised me, then-Senator Brownback and Congressman Tiahrt that if we won the fight to get the tanker contract back, Boeing would stay in Wichita. The chairman again promised the entire delegation the work would remain in Wichita just last February, when the tanker contract was settled in Boeing’s favor.

“Today’s announcement by Boeing’s leadership is hugely disappointing to me, but more importantly to the thousands of workers whose livelihoods are affected by this decision. No lawmaker can compel a private company’s economic decisions, although Governor Brownback and the congressional delegation together have made the best arguments possible for Wichita.

“While it would be easy for me to react to this very unfortunate decision with anger and resentment, that won’t save a single job. Instead, I intend to roll up my sleeves and look forward, working with Governor Brownback, my delegation colleagues and other state and local leaders to promote the Air Capital of the World.”

Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) released the following statement in response to Boeing’s announcement that they plan to close their Wichita facility within the next two years.

“Today I join thousands of Kansans who are outraged by the announcement that Boeing will be closing its Wichita defense facility – leaving the future for hundreds of Kansas workers in jeopardy. As recently as 10 months ago, I joined these workers and local and state officials in Wichita to celebrate Boeing’s victory in the tanker competition. During the competition for the contract, Boeing pledged that a win would bring approximately 7,500 jobs to Kansas, including hundreds of Boeing jobs associated with the finishing work on the new tankers. It is hard to believe that conditions would have changed so rapidly over the past few months to bring about the decision to not only move the tanker finishing work elsewhere, but to also close down the entire facility. The fact that Boeing is now refusing to honor its commitment to the people of Kansas is greatly troubling to me and to thousands of Kansans who trusted that Boeing’s promise would be kept.

“Furthermore, it was merely six weeks ago when Boeing officials announced they were studying the future of the Wichita site. In this short amount of time, I have urged Boeing leadership to meet with state and local officials to discuss alternatives to the closure of its facility. To my dismay, Boeing’s senior leadership chose not to meet with local Wichita officials or even give them a serious opportunity to work together on a different plan for the future. I am astonished Boeing would make such a hasty decision without considering all of the alternatives or the significant impact this decision will have.

“A company so much a part of the Wichita community for 80 years should not make this decision lightly. I strongly urge Boeing’s senior leaders to reconsider this decision that will have a devastating impact on hundreds of Kansas families. Boeing has been a vital part of our community and we want them to remain in Wichita for many years to come. In the days ahead, I will continue to do all I can to encourage Boeing to fulfill their pledge to the Wichita community.”

Governor Sam Brownback issued the following statement regarding the Boeing Company’s decision to phase out its presence in the state.

“No one worked harder for the success of the Boeing Company than Team Kansas -whose membership included the outstanding workforce, city and county officials, state legislators, governors, and the congressional delegation – and I have been pleased to do my part as a U.S. Senator for 14 years and as Governor during the last year. We have been there with the company through every battle, whether it was the 10 year tanker battle or securing funding for other key Boeing Defense programs vital to national security. Our team never wavered, always keeping its commitment to the success of the Boeing Company for the good of the state and of the nation.

“Today’s announcement on the phase out of Boeing’s presence in Wichita is very disappointing to all of us. We are deeply saddened Boeing Defense at the end of this transition period will no longer have operations in Kansas. Wichita has been at the company’s operations core since 1929 with the production of Kaydet Trainers and B-29 Bombers during WWII, B-47 & B-52 Bombers during the 1950’s & 60’s, modification of various airframes during the following years from tankers to Air Force One. The dedication and hard work of generations of Kansans built the success the Boeing Company enjoys today.

“The bottom line for Kansas is jobs. During this time of transition, my Administration will work with Team Kansas to aggressively pursue the booming commercial opportunities that exist with both Boeing and Airbus. Wichita still has world-class facilities and best trained workforce in the aviation industry which makes us the best place in the world to build airplanes. The city is strategically positioned to capture additional work packages from Boeing, Airbus and other groups in the rapidly expanding commercial side of the aviation business which is in a growth pattern.

“My Administration and the delegation will work with all of those impacted by this transition from a defense focus to the growing commercial market to make it as smooth as possible. With any change, there comes uncertainty and issues and questions that can’t be answered at the beginning of the process, but we are committed to working together as Kansans have always done to address these issues going forward.”