Everett not interested in luring possible Airbus plant

EVERETT — The town known for building Boeing Co.’s widebody jets will not be seeking a new neighbor in rival Airbus.

Everett mayor Ray Stephanson said in a statement Thursday that the city won’t meet with representatives from European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., the majority owner of Airbus, about landing a possible deal for an aircraft assembly plant.

“We believe in the product that our hometown company is building with local workers,” Stephanson said in the statement. “Our commitment and community investment is with The Boeing Co.”

Boeing is based in Chicago but has substantial airplane assembly plants in the Puget Sound region, including its massive factory for producing 747s, 767s and 777s in Everett.

EADS officials plan to meet next Tuesday with officials from cities interested landing a possible $600 million plant where aerial tankers might one day be built for the U.S. Air Force.

EADS asked each state to select three cities that would be capable of providing the work force, transportation options and resources needed for a site to assemble the tanker, which would be based on the Airbus A330 passenger jet.

In Washington, Spokane and Moses Lake were also selected.

The deal is considered a longshot because the Department of Defense has not yet decided to replace its fleet of aging Boeing-built KC-135 tankers. And Congress must agree to open up the contract to competition for Airbus to be a contender.

The Pentagon last November nullified a potential $23 billion deal that called for Boeing to supply tankers based on Boeing’s 767 passenger jet and said it would consider alternatives, such as opening the contracts to competition.

EADS has said it would like to choose an American location should it be selected to build a replacement tanker.