Boeing will begin assembling 737 MAX aircraft at its Everett factory on July 6, the first time the company has disclosed a specific date for the launch of its new narrowbody production line.
CEO Kelly Ortberg revealed the schedule during an interview with CNBC, saying the first aircraft will enter the line just over a month from now.
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The announcement provides a concrete timeline for a project that Boeing has been preparing for months. The manufacturer has previously released images showing the Everett facility being modified to accommodate 737 production as it seeks to increase output of its bestselling commercial aircraft.
The new line will initially produce 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 aircraft before gradually shifting its focus toward the 737 MAX 10, the largest member of the family. The strategy is intended to free capacity at Boeing's traditional 737 assembly site in Renton while preparing for the expected certification and entry into service of the MAX 10.
According to Ortberg, the Everett line will help raise 737 production beyond the current rate of 47 aircraft per month. Boeing is targeting 52 aircraft monthly next year and continues to study further increases later in the decade.
The move is a notable change for Everett, a factory historically associated with Boeing's widebody aircraft programs. The site was home to production of the 747, 767, 777 and 787, but demand for several of those programs has declined in recent years.
Production of the 747 ended in 2023, while the 787 assembly line was consolidated in North Charleston, South Carolina. The 767 remains in limited production and the 777X is still progressing through certification testing ahead of service entry.
Against that backdrop, introducing the 737 MAX at Everett gives Boeing additional capacity for the program that accounts for the bulk of its commercial aircraft backlog and future deliveries.
Boeing is already moving to increase 737 MAX output, having recently raised monthly production rates to 47 aircraft as it works toward higher levels in the coming years. The company has stated a long-term goal of producing 65 aircraft per month, while industry reports have indicated Boeing is also studying a potential increase to as many as 70 737 MAX aircraft monthly. The Everett line is expected to play an important role in supporting those ambitions as the manufacturer works through its large order backlog.
