Boeing will add a fourth assembly line to produce more 737 Max planes as it tries to more quickly translate a backlog of orders into cash-generating deliveries of the new planes.
The new line will open in the second half of next year, according to a note Monday to employees from Stan Deal, CEO of Boeing’s commercial-aircraft business.
The line will be at an existing facility in Everett, Washington, where space is available as Boeing is moving production of the larger 787 to South Carolina and ending production of the iconic 747.
The plant is about 40 miles north Boeing’s other 737 assembly lines In the Seattle suburb of Renton, one of which is defunct but is being reactivated, Deal said. He said the company is not moving the entire 737 program, only adding capacity, particularly for newer models of the Max.
The Max is Boeing’s best-selling aircraft. It was grounded worldwide for nearly two years after two fatal accidents involving the flight-control system, which Boeing later overhauled. Since US and other regulators approved the Max to resume flying, Boeing has received large orders from United, Delta, Southwest and foreign airlines.
The text of this story is published from a wire agency feed without any modification.
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