What is the future of Boeing’s Everett Factory?

Boeing’s 747 put Everett on the map in the aviation world. Now that it’s gone, there is a huge space left to be filled in the factory. The factory was built specifically for the 747 and has become the largest of its kind in the world.

Employees gathered in the cold Tuesday night for the historic moment. “Proud. Proudness to be a part of it,” said Rafael Siso Nadal, who is a Boeing engineer, as the 747-8 freighter rolled out of the Everett Production Factory for the last time.

“This huge facility, which by volume is the largest in the world, is way underutilized. It’s going to be at least a decade before Boeing builds another airplane, so what is Boeing going to do in the meantime?” said Aviation Expert for Leeham & Co., Scott Hamilton.

In a statement, a Boeing spokesperson said, "We continue to invest in the Everett site and across the Puget Sound region to create a long-term future for our teammates and industry. Our widebodies produced in Everett, the 767, 777 and 777X (including passenger and a new freighter model) are very successful in the marketplace with orders supporting production for years to come."

But Hamilton says there are still questions. 

“The (787) is now predominately down in South Carolina, the (767) is just across a three airplane a month production rate, and the 777 is down to two a month versus eight a month, and the (747) is gone,” he said.

As far as the employees like Siso Nadal who spent years, working on the queen of the skies, “I work on different programs, I work after the 747, 787, 777X, the next thing. So we’re always busy here.”

Boeing said in a statement that there will be no employee reductions as a result of the 747 closeout.

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[hia]

I am proud to have been part of the 747 program. Working on this massive structure was an honor. It is the most durable and safest aircraft ever flown. Eventhough the times conspired to end her reign early.

There will never be another like the Queen of the Skies

[kobyschechter]

I was at the visitor center at the Everett factory in July 2022. Very sad that there will be no more 747’s built but times have definitely changed since the 1970’s.

[CraigThorne]

"Pull a rabbit out of the hat" That doesn't give me confidence.

[nocrit_]

My dad works for boeing as a test pilot and he actually flew this plane (this exact one) either to get it painted or to the customer but yeah

[CaptalNumbers]

"An historic moment"

Great writing, KING5

[neonspark]

The next plane is his golden parachute

[mikeske]

Most likely a putting everything produced in the Puget Sound region at Everett. I am thinking that eventually the fact that the Renton factory is even older and out of date than the Everett factory.

[skylineXpert]

Went there In april 2018 to see the Everett field and to my surprise there was a 747-8F on the assembly line.

I was like a child in a candy store. The year after I went to St Maarten and then boy did I go nutts, no more sugar for me or flight nip (cat nip for plane spotters)

[DontUputThatEvilOnMe]

747 is the greatest wide body ever to be produced.

[FameyFamous]

Did the report answer the question? I don’t know what they will use this building for.

[yengsabio]

I'm always amazed at how beautifully curved the B747 is!

Lots'a love, cheers, & Mabuhay, from tropical Philippines!

[ramserenity]

2nd guy being interviewed looks like Chris Pratt after years working a normal job.

[Celestial_Arishem]

Can use to ramp production for 777x of other models.

[nate_iad]

I just got hired there so there better not be any reductions!! Pah

[aerohk]

They are dreaming about pilotless plane again? lol

[LoVe-klzl]

A historic not "an historic" 🤦‍♂️

[ge]

I'm guessing that future of it won't be good after all the shoplifters get in there.

[alexeimscruz]

It's better if the 787 is build at Everett rather than in South Carolina... Seattle has always been thw birthplace of all of Boeing's successes
It would be the Ultimate tragedy if Everett would close because of these so called money hungry investors at Chicago
That buy out of McDonnel Douglas was a mistake

[Sacto]

My guess: it will be building the 777X models by the late 2020's.

[dtsh]

Hint: all the homeless people in Seattle need a shelter 😂