For the first time, a Boeing 737 has rolled out of a final assembly line outside Renton, Washington. The aircraft, a 737 MAX 10 destined for WestJet, left Boeing's new North Line in Everett on Monday, October 26.
The milestone comes nearly four months after Boeing loaded the first aircraft into the new line, which occupies part of the company's massive Everett complex previously used for 787 production.
According to the Seattle Times, employees gathered for an internal celebration before the aircraft was moved out of the factory at around 2 p.m. Eight 737 MAX aircraft are now progressing through the North Line, with another MAX 10 for WestJet following the first aircraft.
The rollout does not mean the first Everett-built MAX 10 is ready for delivery. The aircraft was assembled while certification of the variant was still underway and must undergo modifications to incorporate the final certified configuration.
Those changes include work associated with the engine anti-ice system and an enhanced angle-of-attack sensor. After initial checks in Everett, the aircraft is expected to be moved to another Boeing facility for the modifications before it can be delivered to WestJet.
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The Federal Aviation Administration also still needs to approve the Everett North Line for production deliveries. Certification of the 737 MAX 10 itself, completed on October 20, and approval of the new manufacturing line are separate processes.
A second home for the 737
Boeing began loading the first 737 into the Everett line on July 6, creating a second final assembly site for a family historically associated with Renton.
The North Line occupies space formerly used by the 787 program before Boeing consolidated Dreamliner final assembly in North Charleston, South Carolina. Boeing subsequently prepared the Everett building for 737 production as it sought additional capacity for the MAX.
Renton remains the main production center for the 737, but Everett is expected to become increasingly important as Boeing raises output.
The manufacturer is currently working toward a stable production rate of 47 737s per month. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said on Tuesday that the company now expects to fully stabilize at that level in 2027, with wing production among the factors limiting the pace of the increase.
The Everett line is expected initially to contribute about five aircraft per month. Its additional capacity will be needed as Boeing moves toward the next production target of 52 737s per month.
The timing gives the new factory a particularly important role for the MAX 10. The largest member of the 737 MAX family received FAA certification last week after years of delays, allowing Boeing to prepare customer aircraft for delivery.
WestJet is one of the customers awaiting the variant. The Canadian carrier has MAX 10s on order as part of a broader Boeing 737 MAX fleet that already includes the MAX 8.
The first Everett-built aircraft still has another regulatory milestone ahead of it: Boeing cannot deliver a 737 assembled on the North Line until the FAA adds the Everett operation to the company's approved production system.
