Boeing Expands 737 MAX Production In Puget Sound

SEATTLE — Boeing plans to activate a new assembly line for 737 MAX planes in Everett, adding a fourth operation in Everett to join the three operating in Renton. The Seattle Times reported on the announcement Monday, which will utilize space at the plant that until recently housed 747 and 787 production lines.

Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers welcomed news of Boeing's scale-up in a statement Monday.

"I have long said that Snohomish County’s aerospace future is secure and bright, and today’s announcement just confirms that reality," Somers said. "We appreciate Boeing’s partnership and their incredible contribution to our community and economy. As we say a fond farewell to the Queen of the Skies, we welcome her younger sibling, the 737 MAX. We will continue to be the heart of the global aerospace industry and look forward to the innovations that will continue to thrive at Snohomish County’s Paine Field Airport."

According to the Times, Boeing is targeting the second half of 2024 to open the Everett 737 MAX assembly line, allowing it to better compete with rival Airbus' A320. The company has no plans to reduce its footprint in Renton.

Union leadership from the International Association of Machinists Local 751 said most of the team will be current Everett employees moving on from projects that are winding down.

"This is a great opportunity to utilize the space available in Everett," said Jon Holden, the union president. "Our members can make a real impact in meeting the production needs for the 737."

According to the Union, Boeing has nearly 4,300 737 aircraft in its backlog to produce in the coming years. Boeing is Washington's second-largest employer, behind only Amazon, and hired more than 4,000 workers in the Evergreen State last year.