Boeing’s new 737 assembly line starts moving in Everett
The new line, known within Boeing as the Northern Line, is part of the US planemaker’s long-term plans to significantly increase production of its popular single-aisle jet aircraft to keep up with historically high global demand for jets.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said in June that the company would “load” the first plane onto the Everett route on July 6. Ortberg described the line as a replica of the three 737 final assembly lines at Boeing’s Renton plant south of Seattle. The start came as Boeing increased 737 production from 42 to 47 jets per month after consulting with the Federal Aviation Administration. The Northern Line is not expected to contribute to any rate increases before early 2027, when Boeing aims to increase 737 production to 52 jets per month. The company is trying to increase its 737 production rate to 70 jets per month.
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Boeing needs to ramp up 737 production to help it regain financial footing after years of production cuts, safety crises and supplier shortages. The FAA imposed limits on Boeing’s 737 production after the door seal of the nearly new Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 exploded in mid-air in January 2024.
The incident intensified scrutiny of Boeing’s production controls and forced the company to slow production while it addressed quality deficiencies. The Everett factory is the largest building in the world by volume. It once housed production lines for the 747, 767, 777, and 787, but after the end of 747 production and the consolidation of 787 assembly in South Carolina, it had a significant amount of available factory space.
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The 737 MAX competes with Airbus’ A320neo family in the high-volume single-aisle market, where airlines have been waiting for new aircraft for years.
