Boeing is preparing to open a new 737 Max assembly line in Everett, Washington, next month as it looks to increase output while keeping a tighter grip on quality control after years of disruption.
The first aircraft is due to enter the facility on 6 July, chief executive Kelly Ortberg said. The site, located north of Seattle, will become the company’s fourth production line for the Max family and will operate alongside Boeing’s existing Renton factories.
“We’re adding another production line, it’s really a carbon copy of what you see here in Renton,” Ortberg said. “We’ll be loading our first airplane on July 6, so just about a month from now, we’ll be bringing that [fourth] line alive.”
The expansion comes as Boeing gradually raises monthly production from 42 aircraft to 47. The manufacturer is aiming to reach 52 jets a month next year, with a longer-term target of 63, provided its supply chain and factories can support the increase.
Boeing remains under close scrutiny following the January 2024 incident involving an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9, when a door plug detached shortly after take-off. The episode revived concerns about the company’s manufacturing standards and prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to impose tighter oversight and restrict further increases in output.
Ortberg has said Boeing is trying to avoid the mistakes that previously allowed unfinished work to move too far along the production line. The company is now taking a more cautious approach, with each increase tied to the stability of its manufacturing system.
The Everett facility will initially focus on the 737 Max 10, the largest version of Boeing’s single-aisle Max range. The aircraft is still awaiting FAA certification, but the company expects approval before the end of the year.
Bringing the new line online is a significant step for Boeing as it works through a large order backlog, seeks to improve cash flow, and tries to narrow the production gap with Airbus.