Boeing planning to move HQ to Arlington

Boeing announced on Thursday that it would be moving its headquarters from Chicago to Arlington, Va. and would be developing a research and technology hub in northern Virginia.

“We are excited to build on our foundation here in Northern Virginia. The region makes strategic sense for our global headquarters given its proximity to our customers and stakeholders, and its access to world-class engineering and technical talent,” Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun said in a statement.

Boeing noted that the research and technology hub, planned to be established in the area, will target systems engineering, autonomous operations, quantum sciences and software and cyber security innovation development. 

The company said they would still maintain a presence in Chicago but that it would have less office space devoted to their workforce given that their office space needs have been reduced from “flexible and virtual solutions.”

“Focusing our R&D and talent development in areas that support digital innovation will fuel the introduction of cutting-edge capabilities. This new hub in Northern Virginia will follow the successful implementation of this technology strategy in other regions,” Greg Hyslop, Boeing’s chief engineer and EVP of Engineering, Test & Technology, said in a statement. 

The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on Boeing’s expected move to Virginia.

A Virginia state official confirmed to The Hill prior to Boeing’s announcement that the company was planning to move its headquarters to Arlington.

The state official noted that Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) has a personal relationship with Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun due to their overlap in the business world and said that there had been communication over the matter for several months. State economic incentives were also offered to Boeing, the official indicatd.

Boeing is the latest major company to move to Arlington, following in the footsteps of Amazon, which has its second headquarters there. 

Amazon said last year it would be doubling its workforce for their second headquarters. The retail giant has said its headquarters placement there will lead to “thousands of indirect jobs.”

However, there are concerns Amazon’s second headquarters could lead to higher rent prices in the area, though the retail giant has said it has contributed money and loans toward tackling the issue.

Updated at 3:53 p.m.