Boeing is launching a fourth 737 MAX assembly line at its Everett, Washington, factory on Monday, July 6, 2026. CEO Kelly Ortberg announced the operational start of the new North Line to increase single-aisle jetliner output amid historically high global demand and following years of regulatory scrutiny and production disruptions.
Boeing is expanding its manufacturing footprint in the Pacific Northwest by bringing a new production line online at the world’s largest building by volume. The U.S. planemaker plans to begin operating a fourth 737 MAX assembly line on Monday at its facility in Everett, Washington. Known internally as the North Line, the new setup is a direct copy of the three existing 737 final assembly lines located at Boeing’s Renton plant south of Seattle.
Production Ramps and Timelines at the Everett Facility
The expansion arrives as the manufacturer steadily increases its monthly aircraft output. Boeing is currently ramping 737 production from 42 to 47 jets a month following consultations with the Federal Aviation Administration. However, the newly activated North Line is not expected to contribute directly to any rate increases until early 2027, when the company aims to push output to 52 jets a month. Beyond that milestone, leadership is already studying the feasibility of lifting production to as many as 70 jets per month to clear a massive backlog.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg stated in June that the firm would load the first aircraft onto the Everett line on July 6. The enormous Everett factory floor offers considerable available factory space following the conclusion of 747 production and the consolidation of 787 manufacturing operations in South Carolina.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Market Pressures Behind the Expansion
The push to scale up single-aisle manufacturing is essential for the company to regain financial footing following years of heavy disruptions. Boeing has navigated severe safety crises, manufacturing control lapses, and persistent supplier strains that heavily impacted operations. Federal regulators intervened strictly after a January 2024 midair blowout involving a door plug on a nearly new Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9. That incident forced the company to slow its manufacturing cadence while addressing intensive regulatory oversight.
Global market pressures provide additional urgency for the production increase. Boeing’s 737 MAX competes directly against Airbus and its A320neo family in the high-volume single-aisle market. With commercial airlines currently waiting years to receive newly ordered aircraft, accelerating factory throughput remains critical for capturing market share and satisfying global carriers.
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