Boeing to lay off 5,000 US workers

Boeing, the world's largest aircraft maker, is expected to announce it will lay off up to 5,000 workers from its Seattle-based commercial jet unit, and a formal announcement may be made today.

Boeing spokesman Peter Conte said: "If and when we update our (employment) forecast, we, per our practice, would strive to inform our employees first, and other key stakeholders".

The company is nearing completion of 35,000 job cuts in the jetliner since the September 11, 2001 hijack attacks. Those attacks slashed air travel demand and hammered airlines, who in turn have rejected or deferred hundreds of aircraft on order.

Since those attacks, Boeing's total payroll has shrunk to 159,800 from 199,000 - a decline of 20%.

In the jetliner unit, the payroll has shrunk to 58,900 from 93,000, a reduction of 37%.

The new job cuts would reduce the current payroll by as much as 8.5%.

If projections prove accurate Boeing's European rival Airbus SAS, will build more jets than Boeing for the first time in 2003.