Boeing and the International Association of Machinists union appear far apart and unwilling to compromise to settle a strike, both sides indicate as the strike enters its second month.

With a strike by Boeing machinists idling some 27,000 workers since early September, the company looks set for serious delivery delays to an already stretched production schedule.

Protracted strike action will have a serious effect on delivery of Boeing’s record backlog. As of 31 July it had 3,695 unfi lled orders comprising 2,281 B737s, 116 B747s, 45 B767s, 357 B777s and 896 B787s. It already was facing significant penalties for 787 program delays with reports on further delays in the first flight of the 787 regardless of the strike.

Boeing’s lost profits from even a onemonth strike would be at least US$1.3 billion, according to estimates.