British firm looking at Boeing plant in Wichita

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) _ A British firm that bought a Boeing plant in St. Louis three years ago is interested in purchasing Boeing Wichita's commercial airplane operation. <br/><br/>GKN PLC has not made

Sunday, September 5th 2004, 8:27 am

By: News On 6

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) _ A British firm that bought a Boeing plant in St. Louis three years ago is interested in purchasing Boeing Wichita's commercial airplane operation.

GKN PLC has not made a bid for Boeing Wichita's commercial airplane facility. But the expression of interest marks a change from May, when the British firm said it would not pursue a deal.

GKN spokesman Peter Baillie told The Wichita Eagle things had changed since this spring. He said he could confirm that the company was looking again at the Wichita operation.

Chicago-based Boeing wants to sell Boeing Wichita along with its commercial operations in Wichita, Tulsa[pictured] and McAlester, Oklahoma, as it follows a strategy to focus on design and final assembly.