Boeing’s unprecedented decision to consolidate 787 assembly at its Charleston, South Carolina, facility raises more questions than it answers about the company’s future production strategy and its ongoing restructuring in the wake of the air transport market’s collapse.

Some of this reflects a general slump in the widebody market, but most of it stems from a grim recognition that air transport demand will not return to 2019 levels for several years after the novel coronavirus pandemic subsides.

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