Boeing to install fourth 737 MAX assembly line in Everett

Boeing announced internally on Monday morning that it will add a fourth 737 MAX assembly line as Everett’s widebody plant continues to empty.

In addition to the three existing MAX assembly lines in Renton, the end of production of the 747 and 787 will take advantage of the space vacated in Everett.

It also provides the ability to increase production of the 737 MAX to keep up with the production rate of the Airbus A320 jet family.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Diehl said in a message to employees that the new assembly line would be in place “from the second half of 2024.”

“This effort is important,” Diehl wrote. “In addition to preparing the facility, we have initiated a process to notify and prepare our suppliers, customers, unions and employees to take the necessary steps to create the new line.”

“We keep all checks and balances in order, with safety and quality as our top priority,” he added.

Deal told employees it would set up a new MAX production line in what used to be a 787 assembly bay.

Meanwhile, rework to fix fuselage deficiencies that had been underway in stowed 787 bays will be moved to empty 747 bays. Boeing is also reworking the 787 in another small building south of the Boeing Jet Distribution Center in Paine Field.

The narrow-bodied MAX jet is now built exclusively on three separate assembly lines in Renton, but only two of them are in operation as MAX production ramps up. am.

Since the Everett factory was built for the 747 in the late 1960s, it has produced only large widebody jets.

“To be clear, we are not taking the 737 out of Renton, we are just adding capacity to capture customer demand,” Deal told employees. “Most of the Renton 737 MAX teammates will remain at Renton to restart the third line and continue production on his two remaining lines.”

Diehl said the fourth line is designed to increase capacity, especially for later MAX models such as the higher-density MAX 8200 and MAX10.

He cited “availability of highly skilled workers and factory space” as factors in the decision.

“This announcement underscores our commitment to the state and Washington workers, and we thank the IAM for working closely with us,” Deal said. rice field.