Dockworkers strike could compound supply-chain problems for Boeing and Airbus

Airbus ships some components to its plant in Mobile, Alabama.

Plane makers in the US could be further hampered by strike action as dockworkers take to the picket lines.

Ports on the East and Gulf Coasts have been shut down as 45,000 workers represented by the International Longshoremen’s Association went on strike Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Boeing is in the third week of a labor dispute with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers that has resulted in strike action at its Seattle-area facilities.

Boeing also has a plant in Charleston, South Carolina for the 787 Dreamliner. Most parts are sent by air, but some arrive by sea, aerospace outlet Leeham News reported.

Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment from B-17, but told Leeham it did not “currently” expect any impact.

Boeing produces 787 Dreamliners at a plant in Charleston, South Carolina.

Supply-chain disruption has been a major problem for the aviation industry this year due to issues including shortages of materials and skilled labor. Orders were down at July’s Farnborough Airshow as plane makers and airlines alike voiced their frustrations about limited output.

If dockworkers remain on strike for some time, Airbus could also face disruption as it has a plant in Mobile, Alabama. The factory is the final assembly line for some North American customers’ A319, A320, A321, and A220 jets.

The A320 family is the world’s most popular narrowbody range, outselling the Boeing 737, to the extent that its backlog numbered over 7,000 as of July. Strike disruption could be a further setback.

Some major A320 family components, including fuselage sections and wings, are shipped from France to Mobile once a month, Airbus said in a 2019 press release.

“If it is a long strike, there could be some shortages at the Mobile production facility,” Alex Krutz, an aerospace analyst with Patriot Industrial Partners, told FlightGlobal. “It’s a very real possibility that certain components or structures are not available.”

However, an Airbus spokesperson told Leeham News: “We are aware of the situation and have taken actions to mitigate the potential impact on our operations in Mobile.”

Airbus did not immediately respond to a request for comment from B-17.