Why it matters: This fourth 737 production line will allow Boeing to boost production and stability as Boeing works to meet strong market demand for its airplanes.
- The 737 program is currently working towards a production rate of 47 airplanes a month in Renton.
- The North Line, which will focus on the 737-8, -9 and -10 models, will enable an eventual increase to 52 planes a month and even higher rates in the future.
“This $1 billion investment supports just that,” Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, told attendees. “It adds capacity and resiliency into our production system and invests in teammates so that we can predictably meet our commitments.
The North Line will operate at low-rate initial production (LRIP) for several months to provide time for a methodical start-up and ensure the same safety and quality as Renton-built airplanes.
“We look forward to rolling out the first airplane later this year, delivering to airlines around the world while supporting jobs and economic growth here at home,” said Pope.
A blue-ribbon afternoon: Political leaders, company officials, employees and guests gathered for the ribbon cutting on the factory floor. Among the honorees was Logan Fouts, a Tooling Engineering leader on the North Line. He ran the anchor leg of the relay, holding the baton high as he entered the factory.
The ‘Wing Transport Tool’ - a tractor trailer with a 737 wing on its back - served as a backdrop for the event, showing how wings will be trucked from Renton to the new line. Beside it towered a green fuselage that will become the second 737 MAX built in the Everett factory.
‘It just feels right’: Standing before a crowd of employees and guests, Boeing leaders recalled the legacy of the Everett site and looked forward to its future.
“This bay has a special place in my heart,” said Mike Fleming, senior vice president and general manager of Airplane Programs and Customer Support for Commercial Airplanes. “It was originally built for 777 production. Standing here now, you can feel the energy of a healthy production line starting up and it just feels right.”
“Our confidence is in you, the people who stand behind the products we build,” Fleming added. “You are using the same processes that have been validated in Renton, and you will be replicating the same high level of quality and performance that we see there.”
They said it: U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, a nearby resident and the ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee, called the line a milestone for the region and the company.
“This expansion shows that (Washington State) can meet demand, grow our workforce, train and skill them,” Cantwell said. “We will build great products here in Everett. This makes our state more economically secure and helps our nation compete in aviation.”
U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, who represents Everett and the surrounding area, said “the North Line represents a massive economic boost: a 25% increase in production capacity that strengthens our state as the global capital of aviation. The ripple effects will support more than 1,100 local suppliers and small businesses, helping families and driving our regional economy.”
Catch up quick: The new North Line will expand Boeing’s ability to produce single-aisle airplanes and meet market demand for the 737 MAX family, which has a backlog of more than 4,000 airplanes that will take current production into the 2030s.
By Matt Pentz
