FLYING Magazine
Starting Monday, the Boeing factory in Everett, Washington, will be turning out finished 737 Max aircraft. According to the aerospace giant, the “North Line,” as it is called, represents the fourth final assembly line for the jet.
The factory is located north of Seattle on 1,000 acres at Seattle Paine Field International Airport (KPAE). The complex is basically a small city within the boundaries of Mukilteo, Washington, and Everett. Boeing has its own fire department, gymnasium, and multiple restaurants to accommodate its approximate 30,000 employees.
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The factory was built in 1967 to manufacture the Boeing 747 “Jumbo Jet,” also known as the “Queen of the Skies,” and is the largest building in the world by volume. In addition to assembling the 747, it has housed the 767, 777, and 787 programs.
Boeing ended the 747 program in 2023. That, and the relocation of a good portion of the 787 final assembly line to the company’s factory in South Carolina, created more space in the factory for the Max line. Boeing noted in a news release that the initial airplanes to be built include the Max 8 and 9, and eventually the Max10.
Boeing officials also said this marks an increase in the monthly production of the 737 from 42 to 47. Boeing has been working with the FAA to incrementally increase production since the agency imposed a cap on production limits following the midair door plug blowout of an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 in 2024.
On January 5, shortly after takeoff from Portland International Airport (KPDX) in Oregon, the door plug departed the aircraft, leading to explosive decompression. The crew declared an emergency and were able to return to the airport safely.
There were no serious injuries or fatalities to the 171 passengers on board or the six crewmembers. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation found the probable cause of the event to be the “systemic failure of Boeing’s manufacturing process and ineffective oversight of the Federal Aviation Administration.” Boeing and the FAA have been working together to improve communication and procedures allowing the company to increase production.
The company said it is striving to increase monthly output to 52 aircraft by early 2027, and that it may eventually produce as many as 70 aircraft per month.
See It For Yourself
Boeing offers factory tours that are highly informative and entertaining, and a “must see” for visitors to Washington state. The tour includes a view of the factory floor from several stories up that really drives home the sheer size of the facility and the aircraft it turns out.
It also features an exhibit center that showcases the history of Boeing and hands-on exhibits that demonstrate the company’s work in the aerospace industry.