Impact of Boeing strike starts to spread

CHICAGO, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- Airlines and parts suppliers are beginning to feel the impact of a monthlong machinists' strike at U.S. plane-maker Boeing.

Irish airline Ryanair has canceled flights due to delays in delivery of Boeing 737s, USA Today reported Monday. Virgin Blue, an Australian carrier, has delayed initiating new routes from Sydney to Los Angeles as the strike has delayed delivery of three 777-300s, the newspaper said.

A Connecticut supplier, Barnes Group, retracted its earnings projections for 2008 due to the strike, which began Sept. 6 when 27,000 machinists walked off their jobs.

The machinists are demanding Boeing allow them to bid on more of the work outsourced to foreign and domestic companies, in part a reaction to work Boeing outsourced for the new 787 Dreamliner, which was scheduled for inaugural flights this fall.

The newspaper said Boeing hired outside companies for more of the 787 than it had for any of its previous jets, angering Boeing machinists, whose numbers have declined sharply since 1989.