Boeing will build the 737 line in Everett, Washington

Boeing plans to build a fourth 737 Max production line in Everett, Washington, in a former 787 Dreamliner assembly hall, Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal told employees in an internal memo Monday. The line is expected to begin operating in the second half of 2024 and will occupy the 40-26 Production Integration Center, where the 787 was assembled before Boeing moved final Dreamliner assembly to Charleston, South Carolina. The company plans to move work on the salvaged 787s to other available space in Everett’s high bay.

Deal said most of the workers at the current 737 assembly site in Renton, Wash., where Boeing now operates two of the three lines it operated before halting production in 2019, will remain there as a third line reopens to raise rates over 31 for a month. A small group, along with some Everett workers and some new hires, will help open a fourth line, known as the North Line, he added.

“To be clear, we are not removing the 737 from Renton, we are simply adding capacity to meet customer demand, especially for newer models like the -8200 and 737-10,” Dill wrote. “Given its proximity to Renton, Everett is a great fit with the availability of highly skilled workers and factory space.”

The announcement was good news for the Everett plant, which has seen a lull since Boeing consolidated all 787 production in South Carolina and halted assembly of the 777-300ER ahead of an expected ramp-up of the 777X. The 777X is not expected to receive certification until 2025, but has been repeatedly delayed, bringing production to a complete halt by the end of this year.

Along with preparing the facility, Boeing began the process of notifying and preparing suppliers, customers, unions and employees for the new line.

“We methodically work through all of our checks and balances, keeping safety and quality first,” noted Deal. “We greatly appreciate the support of Washington’s congressional delegation, especially Senators Murray and Cantwell and Representatives Smith and Larsen, who represent our sites in Renton and Everett, respectively, and our government leaders here in the state. This announcement underscores our commitment to the state and workers of Washington, and we also thank IAM for working closely with us to support the safe certification of Max 7 and Max 10.