US aerospace giant Boeing is moving its headquarters from Seattle where it was founded 85 years ago.
The company is considering Chicago, Denver and Dallas-Fort Worth.
Chairman and chief executive Mr Phil Condit says the reason is to save money and give the company a more central headquarters.
Competition has become fierce from European consortium Airbus Industrie, Boeing's only rival for large commercial jets.
Boeing's huge jet manufacturing plants will remain in the Seattle area as will much of its research and development work.
Mr Condit said fewer than half the 1,000 employees working at its Seattle corporate centre will be moved to the new headquarters. The others will be transferred to other departments or may be laid off.
Boeing hopes to choose the new site by early summer and have it running by autumn.
Boeing is Washington state's biggest private employer, with 78,400 people in the Seattle area alone. Worldwide it has 198,900 workers, with major operations in St Louis and southern California.
PA
