A twist of fate may actually create jobs in San Antonio (Click here) at The Boeing Company's Global Services and Support center even after hundreds of workers were informed they would soon be laid off.

Last week, officials notified about 250 workers at the company's aviation center that they would be laid off in January 2010. Those cuts are the result of Boeing choosing not to appeal the loss of a $3.8 billion maintenance and logistics services contract on a fleet of aerial refueling tankers.

However, according to an article by San Antonio News, the company later learned that its facility in San Antonio could actually grow after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed a decision by a federal claims court, saying a maintenance contract for a separate Air Force fleet should be reconsidered.

That decision lifted an injunction that had prevented the contract from going to Boeing. The contract had already been awarded to the company, but was challenged by Alabama Aircraft Industries, Inc. The 10-year, $1.1 billion deal will result in the creation of about 200 San Antonio jobs.

Boeing officials have not yet disclosed how many jobs will be created under the new contract, and Alabama Aircraft still has an opportunity to challenge the decision.

As far as the upcoming layoffs, some of workers affected may be eligible to find openings at other Boeing sites and some may be recalled when more jobs open up under the new contract. In addition, all displaced workers will receive a severance package.

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