Boeing's $1 billion 737 North Line ran for five days before workers and company leadership gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Everett plant, marking the first time 737 production has operated outside Renton since the narrowbody moved there in 1970.

The line became operational Tuesday, July 7, when crews began outfitting a 737 MAX 10 fuselage destined for Canadian carrier WestJet, according to FlightGlobal.

By the end of the week, tool construction team lead Joe Hollingsworth said the expected first-week bugs were surfacing.

"Yes, we found things that weren't ordered or IPs (internal processes) that need to be modified, corrected. So that's what LRIP's about is cleaning up the system to make it hassle free," Hollingsworth, a 14-year Boeing veteran who spent nearly four years preparing the North Line, told the Everett Post.

LRIP — Low Rate Initial Production — means Boeing is deliberately running the line at reduced speed to catch missing parts, process gaps, and quality issues before ramping up.

Hollingsworth said workers are focused on following procedures and passing quality checks rather than hitting production targets.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 10 drew Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen and U.S. Rep. Suzan Del Bene, along with hundreds of assembly workers, according to the Everett Herald. Relay runners passed a 3D-printed fuselage from Renton Mayor Armondo Pavone to Franklin, who handed it to Boeing materials manufacturing engineer Brandon Egbert — a nod to the Renton-to-Everett production connection.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stephanie Pope noted that 2026 marks 60 years since crews began clearing the Everett site for the 747. The plant has since produced the 747, 767, 777, and 787 before those programs ended or moved.

Pope said she looks forward to the first North Line aircraft rolling out later this year.

By the numbers

The North Line occupies building 40-26, where Boeing formerly assembled 787 Dreamliners. It has 20% more floor space than the entire Renton 737 site, allowing every assembly position to accommodate the MAX 10, the largest variant. At Renton, Boeing must alternate a shorter MAX 8 after each MAX 10.

About 1,000 employees staff the line — roughly half transferred from Renton and half new hires trained there, according to FlightGlobal.

Del Bene said the line represents a 25% increase in 737 MAX production capacity and will support more than 1,100 local suppliers and small businesses.

Boeing's monthly 737 output stands at 47 jets after passing an FAA capstone review in May 2026, according to AFP reporting. The North Line is meant to help reach 52 per month, with a longer-term target of 63 or higher.

Boeing's 737 MAX order backlog exceeds 4,300 airplanes.

What's next

Wings for North Line aircraft will still be built, sealed, and painted at Renton, then trucked to Everett on purpose-designed trailers for installation at the fourth assembly station. Fuselages arrive by rail from Wichita.

Before Boeing can deliver any aircraft built on the North Line, the FAA must approve the Everett site under Boeing's existing PC700 production certificate.

North Line senior director Jennifer Boland-Masterson told FlightGlobal the FAA is auditing to confirm the line matches Renton's engineering drawings and quality management system. No timeline for that approval has been given.

Boeing originally planned the North Line for the second half of 2024 but delayed after the FAA capped 737 output at 38 per month following the January 2024 Alaska Airlines door-plug blowout.