Summary
- Boeing’s famous factory in Everett, Washington is reopening its tours after being shut down since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Visitors can expect enhancements to the tours, including a new route through the factory and updated visual components.
- The factory is globally known for producing various Boeing aircraft, with the next generation Boeing 777X set to join the production line after certification.
On September 28, Boeing announced it would reopen tours for its famous factory in Everett, Washington. The factory is well-known for producing various Boeing aircraft over the years. Boeing revealed that tickets are now on sale for factory tours beginning on October 5.
Famous factory tours
The Everett factory has seen over six million visitors since it began offering tours in 1968. However, the tours have been shut down since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, with the tours beginning again, visitors will see various enhancements from the typical tours that visitors have seen in the past. This includes a brand-new route through the factory and updated visual components.
Photo: Boeing
The Boeing Future of Flight General Manager, Christi Medlyn, spoke about opening tours. Medlyn said in a statement,
“We are thrilled to reopen our factory tour experience to visitors who want to see how Boeing airplanes are assembled and learn about the company’s role as a global leader in aviation, With the rebound in travel and tourism, we are pleased to once again share this exclusive look into one of the world’s most interesting factories.”
A typical tour of the factory lasts around 80 minutes. Visitors can walk through the famous factory and get a behind-the-scenes look at the production line as well as learn about the history of the production site in Everett. The tour begins in the Boeing Future of Flight Museum, which showcases the various aerospace attractions, Boeing products, and the company’s commitment to advancing the aviation industry. Visitors can then walk through the factory’s network of underground tunnels and visit the observation balcony where they can see the production line in action, which is currently producing the Boeing 777.
Globally known factory
The factory, which sits at the Northeast corner of Paine Field, is known across the world for producing a wide range of Boeing aircraft. Since its groundbreaking in 1966, the factory has produced the 747, 767, 777, and the 787 Dreamliner.
The factory is also recognized as the largest building in the world by volume. It takes up 98.3 acres and has a 98 million cubic feet footprint.
Everett producing the 777X
After the Boeing 777X completes the certification process, it will join the Everett factory production line. The next generation widebody aircraft is hoping to begin deliveries in 2025 after the certification process has experienced significant delays. However, Boeing has already received several orders for the next-generation aircraft.
Photo: Vidit Luthra | Shutterstock
The aircraft’s launch customer is Lufthansa, which ordered 27 Boeing 777-9s. The airline is set to replace some of its aging aircraft, such as the Boeing 747, with the new aircraft.
The largest order of 777Xs is by Emirates. The airline ordered a total of 115 aircraft, set to replace some of the older 777 variants. The airline also famously only operates 777s and Airbus A380s, although it is set to receive Airbus A350s in the future.
Other global airlines such as Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Air India, and British Airways among others have also ordered the aircraft.