You walk through the doors and your brain just sort of breaks. It’s the size. We’re talking about a building so massive it has its own weather system—clouds actually used to form near the ceiling before they fixed the circulation. Honestly, the Boeing Company Everett WA plant isn't just a factory; it’s a small, pressurized city where people build the machines that keep the modern world moving.
If you're heading north of Seattle expecting a standard corporate office, you're in for a shock. This place, officially located at Paine Field, is the world's largest building by volume. It covers 98.7 acres. You could fit the entirety of Disneyland inside it and still have room for parking.
The Current State of the Everett Factory
Things are different now than they were a few years ago. You’ve probably heard the headlines. The 787 Dreamliner production famously moved its final assembly to South Carolina in 2021, which felt like a gut punch to the local workforce. But Everett didn't just go quiet.
Right now, in 2026, the factory is a beehive of "recovery mode" energy. The 777X is the big story here. After years of certification hurdles and technical resets, the massive 777-9 is finally pushing toward its 2027 entry into service. If you look at the flight line today, you’ll see those distinctive folding wingtips—a feature that allows a massive wingspan to still fit into standard airport gates.
It’s not just the new stuff, though. The 767 line is still breathing, though it’s on a countdown. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg announced that commercial 767 freighter production will wrap up in 2027. For now, they’re finishing off the remaining orders for FedEx and UPS, while the KC-46A tanker (the military version) continues to be a staple of the Everett floor.
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What’s Actually Moving on the Floor Right Now?
Inside the factory, the "shadow factory" is a real thing. It's basically a massive dedicated space for rework and quality fixes. Because of the intense FAA oversight we've seen lately, Boeing has had to slow down to speed up.
- The 777X Program: This is the flagship. Technicians are currently working on Phase 3 of the Type Inspection Authorization (TIA). It's a lot of drilling, wing-spar assembly, and complex systems integration.
- The 737 MAX Line: Wait, isn't the MAX built in Renton? Usually, yes. But Everett opened a fourth production line for the MAX to help clear the backlog and handle the increased quality checks mandated by the FAA.
- 777 Freighters: These are the workhorses. In fact, just this month in January 2026, MSC Air Cargo took delivery of a brand new 777F right here at the Everett delivery center.
The Sustainable Future at Paine Field
There’s a new player on the campus that most people haven't noticed yet: the Cascadia Sustainable Aviation Accelerator (CSAA). It just launched this month.
Basically, Washington State and Boeing are pouring millions into making Snohomish County a global hub for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Bill McSherry, a Boeing VP, recently noted that the company is committing to using a 30% SAF blend for all test flights and deliveries out of the Seattle area starting this year. They want these jets to be able to fly on 100% "green" fuel by 2030. It's a huge shift from the kerosene-heavy history of the site.
Visiting the Boeing Company Everett WA
If you want to see this for yourself, you go to the Boeing Future of Flight. It’s located in Mukilteo, right on the edge of the airport.
Don't just show up and expect to wander the floor. It doesn't work like that. You have to book a guided tour, and honestly, they sell out weeks in advance. The tour is about 80 minutes. You’ll walk through tunnels and ride elevators to balconies that look down over the assembly lines.
The "No-Go" List:
They are incredibly strict. You cannot bring a phone. You cannot bring a camera. You can't even bring a pencil. They have lockers for your gear because if a stray object falls from a balcony into a $200 million jet engine, it’s a catastrophic day for everyone involved.
Also, a weird but important rule: you have to be at least 4 feet tall (48 inches). This isn't a "vibe" thing; it's a safety requirement for the stairs and industrial elevators.
Is it Still the Economic Engine of Washington?
Yes, but it's complicated. The site employs around 30,000 people. That’s down from the peaks of the 1990s, but it's still a massive chunk of the regional economy.
The transition is real. As the 767 winds down and the 787 stays in the South, Everett is reinventing itself as the center for widebody innovation and "complex" assembly. It's where the hardest problems get solved. When a fuselage needs a specific type of structural repair that a standard line can't handle, it often comes here.
Actionable Insights for Visitors and Job Seekers
If you are planning a visit or looking at the Boeing Company Everett WA as a career move, keep these specific things in mind:
- For Tourists: Book your tickets at least a month out. The 8:45 AM slot is usually the best because you beat the heavy traffic coming up from Seattle on I-5.
- For Aviation Geeks: Head to the Sky Deck at the Future of Flight. You don't need a tour ticket for the deck, and it’s the best place to watch 777X test flights or Dreamlifters landing.
- For Local Commuters: The "Boeing shift change" is a literal force of nature. Avoid Highway 526 (the Boeing Freeway) around 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM unless you enjoy sitting in a sea of brake lights.
- For Business Interest: Watch the 777-9 certification milestones. That is the pulse of this factory. Every FAA flight test is a step toward stability for the thousands of families supported by this site.
The factory isn't just a place where planes are made anymore. It's where Boeing is trying to prove it can still build the best aircraft in the world while under the most intense scrutiny in aviation history. It’s a massive, steel-framed gamble on the future of flight.
To get the most out of a visit, check the daily flight schedules for Paine Field (PAE) to see if any 777X test frames are scheduled for touch-and-go landings, which offer a rare view of the folding wingtips in action. Check the official Boeing Future of Flight website for the most recent safety protocols before arriving at the Mukilteo campus.