boeing assembly plant tour

Let's Tour Together

Step inside the world's largest factory for a behind-the-scenes look at the Boeing Everett Factory and 777 assembly line. Each tour is an 80-minute guided experience with a front row view of current airplane production, the Everett site’s history and the central role it plays in the future of commercial aviation.

Pro-Tip: Tickets sell out quickly. We recommend booking tickets in advance, either online or through the Call Center: +1 (800) 464-1476

Tour Schedule: Offered Thursday – Monday. Select 'Buy Tickets' to check availability.

boeing assembly plant tour

Know Before You Go

Safety requirements.

  • Children/Youth must be at least 4 feet (48in/122cm) tall to go on the tour.
  • Carrying children on the tour is not allowed for safety reasons.
  • Children/Youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Restricted Items

This is a hands-free tour. Complimentary lockers are available to use in the lobby. Please store all belongings before your tour time begins. Items NOT allowed on the Boeing Everett Factory Tour:

  • No purses, handbags, waist pouches or backpacks
  • No binoculars and electronics including cameras, video equipment or drones
  • No phones or tablets
  • No food or drinks
  • No smoking or vaping

Refunds and Restrictions

  • If guests do not arrive promptly for their scheduled tour the reservation will be forfeited*. We strongly recommend guests arrive at least 30 minutes before their tour start time.
  • Refunds will be provided with at least 24-hour notice of cancellation. No refunds will be made within 24 hours of your scheduled tour.
  • In order to request a reservation modification of any kind, please call Boeing Future of Flight Customer Service at +1 (800)-464-1476 .

* If an emergency arises, we will attempt to reschedule your tour if you call at least one hour in advance of your scheduled tour time (depending on availability).

The Boeing Company reserves the right to cancel the tour at any time for any reason.

Accessibility

  • Boeing Future of Flight is an accessible facility. Please contact Boeing Future of Flight Customer Service in advance at [email protected] or call +1 (800) 464-1476 for special accommodations requests, including booking our wheelchair-accessible bus tour. For more information regarding our accessibility accommodations, please visit our Accessibility page.
  • Participation on the Boeing Everett Factory Tour requires traveling approximately .3 miles (.5km) round trip. There are flights of stairs to navigate; however, elevators are accessible on all floors at Boeing Future of Flight and the Boeing Everett Factory Tour.

Restrooms are not available during the tour. Please plan ahead by using the restrooms at Boeing Future of Flight before your tour start time.

Stay in the Know!

Join our email list to be the first to know about new experiences, events and promotions.

Simple Flying

How can you get a boeing factory tour.

The famous Boeing Factory Tour has reopened after a break of three years.

  • Boeing reopened the Everett Factory Tour after three years, offering enhanced experiences such as visual elements and new routes.
  • The factory tour showcases iconic widebody aircraft, provides a behind-the-scenes look, and allows visitors to explore various exhibits.
  • Tickets cost $12 for General Admission and $38 for the Boeing Everett Factory Tour, with discounts for seniors, military personnel, and Boeing employees.

In October 2023, Boeing reopened its Everett Factory Tour after a break of over three years. The famous tour has been amusing aviation enthusiasts since 1966. While the pandemic briefly pauses the long-time tradition, it is back with various enhancements, including visual elements and new routes through the factory.

What is the Boeing factory tour?

Boeing is the largest aircraft manufacturer in North America and one of two major commercial airplane makers. The Boeing Factory is the world’s largest building by volume, spanning over 98.3 acres and having a footprint of 98 million cubic feet. The factory in Everett has produced some of the most iconic widebody aircraft, including the 747, 767, 777, and the 787 Dreamliner.

Boeing provides a behind-the-scenes tour of its factory and the assembly line. The tour includes the Boeing Gallery, Sky Deck, and the Boeing Store. According to Boeing,

“Step inside the world's largest factory for a behind-the-scenes look at the Boeing Everett Factory and 777 assembly line. Each tour is an 80-minute guided experience with a front row view of current airplane production, the Everett site’s history, and the central role it plays in the future of commercial aviation.”

The factory tour begins in the Boeing Future of Flight Museum, representing various exhibits, products, and the company’s commitment to continuous innovation. Visitors are guided through underground tunnels and walkways to the observation balcony to (currently) see the Boeing 777 assembly line.

How to get the Boeing Factory Tour?

Boeing's factory tours typically run between Thursdays and Mondays from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM local time. Each tour is an 80-minute guided experience that takes individuals through the history of Boeing and its facilities.

Boeing recommends purchasing tickets in advance as they sell out quickly. Individuals can purchase tickets online or by calling Boeing’s Future of Flight customer call center at +1(800) 464-1476. The company does offer walk-in entries depending on availability. Tickets are restricted by date and time and are not transferable, with some exceptions.

How much do tickets cost?

There are two levels of experience at the Boeing Factory: General Admission and Boeing Everett Factory Tour. General Admission costs $12 for an adult and includes access to the latest exhibits, Sky Deck, and Gallery Experiences. The Boeing Everett Factory Tour costs $38 and includes a behind-the-scenes guided tour and General Admission. A detailed list of ticket prices is as follows.

The company also offers annual passes for individuals and families for General Admission only. Add-ons like the Boeing Everett Factory Tour would incur an additional patron charge.

Instructions and Policies

Participation in the Boeing Everett Factory Tour requires approximately 0.3 miles (0.5 km) of walking, including some steps and stairs. The escalators are accessible on all floors. On the factory tour, Boeing restricts carrying phones, tablets, cameras, binoculars, and drones. Other general restrictions for carrying weapons or smoking on the tour apply.

What are your thoughts on the resumption of the Boeing Everett Factory Tour? Share your views in the comments section.

Travel news, reviews and intel for high-flyers

Sign up for our weekly newsletter

Go behind the scenes at boeing: factory tours are back.

Boeing's Everett factory, renowned as the largest building in the world by volume, once again opened its doors to the public on October 5

by Enrique Perrella

November 1, 2023

boeing assembly plant tour

Photo: Courtesy of Boeing Commercial Airplanes

After a lengthy hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Boeing Factory Tours are back, offering aviation enthusiasts and curious minds a chance to witness the magic of aircraft production.

For years, the Boeing Factory Tour has been a sought-after experience, attracting more than six million visitors from around the globe since its inception in 1968. The tour provides a glimpse into the fascinating world of aviation, with a behind-the-scenes look at the assembly line of iconic Boeing aircraft, which included the 747, 767, 777, and 787 Dreamliner.

Christi Medlyn, Boeing Future of Flight general manager, shared the excitement surrounding the reopening with Business Traveler USA .

“We’ve been closed for the tour portion of the experience for three and a half years. In the meantime, we invested in this space to give people a great brand experience for Boeing. It’s not just about airplane manufacturing; it’s about the full enterprise,” she explained.

A Renewed Factory Tour

Boeing’s Future of Flight location has undergone a transformation over the past few years to complement the factory tour. It now offers an immersive experience that covers various aspects of Boeing’s operations, including sustainable fuels, autonomous flight, and satellite technology.

In addition, hands-on activities and STEM learning opportunities have been introduced, allowing visitors to engage with drones and robots.

boeing assembly plant tour

Visitors will notice several enhancements to the Boeing Factory Tour experience. The new route through the factory offers a unique perspective, taking guests from the Boeing Future of Flight Museum to the massive Everett factory, where tens of thousands of employees support airplane production.

The tour also includes access to the site’s underground system of factory tunnels and an observation balcony providing an exclusive, sweeping view of the current 777 assembly line where Boeing’s future flagship, the 777X, will also be manufactured. Lufthansa and Emirates are the first two airlines expecting to take delivery of the new variant of the Triple Seven.

boeing assembly plant tour

Photo: Boeing 777X. Courtesy of Boeing Commercial Airplanes

Furthermore, visitors are treated to a comfortable bus tour that takes them through various sections of the airport tarmac. The journey starts from the area where new planes are fueled for the first time and continues to where Boeing 737 fuselages arrive on train wagons from Wichita, Kansas.

Sometimes, brand-new Boeing 777s without engines can be spotted, and other rare planes like Boeing 767 military tankers can be seen as they are prepared for delivery. During every portion of the tour, a knowledgeable guide provides detailed explanations of every aspect and responds to any questions from curious visitors.

boeing assembly plant tour

However, the tour isn’t the only attraction. Boeing Future of Flight features the Boeing Gallery, showcasing nearly 150 past, current, and future Boeing products and services, including the intriguing Passenger Air Vehicle (PAV) or personal flying car.

The Above and Beyond exhibit offers immersive simulations, and visitors can snap selfies with the Destiny Module from the International Space Station.

boeing assembly plant tour

The open-air Sky Deck provides breathtaking views of Paine Field, the factory, and the enchanting North Cascade Mountains in the distance. It’s not unusual to spot brand-new planes parked on the deck, preparing for their journey into the skies.

And for those looking to take home a piece of aviation memorabilia, the Boeing store offers a wide range of souvenirs, from sweatshirts to scale model jets, coffee mugs, and vintage Boeing pilot jackets for kids and adults.

Overwhelming Response

The reopening of the Boeing Factory Tours has been met with overwhelming demand. Visitors have expressed their excitement and appreciation for the improved experience.

“It has been overwhelmingly positive, as we have been sold out every day. The pent-up demand and excitement around our product has been contagious. We are pleased with the positive visitor reviews received so far,” Christi Medlyn said.

“We’ve invested in every aspect of the experience, from the script to the exhibit content. We’ve added new elements and updated the storytelling.”

boeing assembly plant tour

“Even though the experience is a bit different from the last time, we have made significant investments in every aspect. You will see the difference even while walking down the booth hallways,” Medlyn added.

Focus on the Boeing 777

While the tour has shifted its focus from the 747 to the 777 experience, it continues to captivate visitors, old and new, with its rich history and innovations in the world of aviation.

With the entire assembly line for the 787 Dreamliner now operational at Boeing’s South Carolina plant, the facility at Paine Field is exclusively dedicated to the Triple Seven family of planes. This includes the present 777 Freighter, along with the new 777X, along with the occasional 767 Freighter.

“After the 747 and the 787 were no longer being manufactured in Paine Field, we had to alter our route,” Medlyn explained. “As a result, we are now focusing on improving the 777 experience while incorporating new elements that highlight the entire family of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. We aim to discuss sustainability and introduce fresh perspectives to our storytelling.”

“So, we looked at everything from the script to the exhibit content. We added a little bit of Boeing history that you’ll see in the theater experience through a video at the beginning of the tour.”

boeing assembly plant tour

Whether you’re a seasoned aviation enthusiast or just curious about the marvels of flight, the Boeing Factory Tours are ready to deliver an unforgettable experience you’ll be eager to share with your friends for months to come.

So, mark your calendars, aviation fans, because this is a rare opportunity to step inside the world of Boeing, where dreams of flight become reality. The Everett factory, Boeing’s crown jewel, is ready to inspire and educate once again.

Most Popular

Related stories.

boeing assembly plant tour

Cathay Pacific Brings Back First Class Service to New York

boeing assembly plant tour

Air New Zealand's New Business Class Menu Features Iconic Kiwi Delicacies

boeing assembly plant tour

These Are the World's Best Airports for Food and Drink in 2024

Privacy overview.

The Boeing Company logo

Future of Flight public tour reaches 6 million guests

The tour in everett, washington, provides the only publicly available opportunity to see a commercial jet assembly plant in north america..

February 21, 2021 in Our-Community

People entering the Future of Flight.

The Boeing Future of Flight public tour, which provides the only publicly available opportunity to see a commercial jet assembly plant in North America, this week celebrated its 6 millionth factory tour visitor since opening in 1968 in Everett, Washington.

Trond Log of Norway received VIP treatment as the milestone guest, along with his wife, Else Tove-Birkeland, and daughters Emma Birkeland, and Tomine Birkeland-Log.

“I have been waiting 30 years to take the Boeing tour,” he said. “We were really looking forward to being here today.”

“We are just a normal family, very down to earth, and to be treated as VIPs has been the experience of a lifetime,” Tove-Birkeland added.

Jeff Klemann, vice president of 777/777X Programs and Everett Site was on hand to welcome the family to the facility.

“The Future of Flight is an excellent way for guests like Mr. Log and his family to discover and experience all that Boeing has to offer,” Klemann said. “The recent changes at the Future of Flight make it a worthwhile visit for anyone who has not visited in a while.”

Guests in the Future of Flight.

Some of those changes include a gallery that features over a 150 products and services that Boeing has developed and supports.

Boeing expanded its engagement in the Future of Flight facility in late 2018. Located adjacent to Boeing’s widebody manufacturing plant and featuring a cafe, Boeing Store and Sky Deck, it opened in 2005 as a Snohomish County facility. Boeing moved its tour starting point there at that time. Previously, the tour was based in a triple-wide trailer in a parking lot outside the factory.

The Boeing Future of Flight and tour is the top tourist attraction in Snohomish County and one of the top attractions in the Seattle area, according to state tourism statistics. It averages more than 300,000 visitors a year. It took 39 years (2008) to reach 3 million visitors, but just 12 more years to reach 6 million.

On Tuesday, Log and his family were given a tour of the Everett site’s main assembly building by Greg Coe, a 10-year member of the Boeing tour team. Log said he was impressed by Coe’s knowledge of the carbon technology used in the 787 and 777 airplanes.

The employee team at the Future of Flight greeted family after their tour with cheers, gifts, and refreshments, which they enjoyed along with the rest of the tour group.

More Stories in Our Community

boeing assembly plant tour

Employees Community Fund: 75 Years of Impact

Family First Community Center in Renton Boeing Photo

Boeing helps retired Seahawk fund safe, inclusive programs

Brigitte Baker

Transforming lives: Toolmaker prepares the next generation

boeing assembly plant tour

Newest U.S. citizens take oath in the shadow of retired Air Force One

A group of volunteers at Lake Samammish Stat Park in Washington State.

For the sake of salmon

Hannah Christensen

US Air Force pride connects intern to Boeing

  • Employee/Retiree
  • Emergency Information
  • Merchandise
  • Our History
  • Sustainability (ESG)
  • Our Company

Popular Links

  • Orders & Deliveries
  • Ethics Line
  • Investment Recovery
  • Frequently Requested

Follow Boeing

  • All Social Channels

Stock Price

Site Terms  |  Privacy and Cookie Statement  |  Ad Choices  |  Cookie Settings

Step inside Boeing's South Carolina Dreamliner factory

David Slotnick

For most of its history, Boeing has been synonymous with the Seattle area. Although the global aerospace company has facilities across the U.S. and abroad, it was founded in Seattle, and for most of its history, it built its commercial aircraft at two Seattle-area factories.

In 2011, Boeing opened a third commercial factory, this one in Charleston, South Carolina.

The new location came to be after Boeing purchased the South Carolina-based operations of two suppliers in 2008 and 2009: Vought Aircraft Industries and Global Aeronautica, which built components for Boeing.

Boeing absorbed both operations and combined them, before opening a final 787 assembly and delivery line on the site two years later.

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG's free biweekly Aviation newsletter .

The Charleston site operates alongside Boeing's Everett factory in Washington state, which produces wide-body commercial jets.

Boeing said that it needed the second assembly line in order to "expand our production capability to meet the market demand for the airplane" and that it chose the Charleston site due to the component work already being done on the property.

However, the announcement came during a period of turbulent relations with its Washington-based union, leading to allegations that the plane-maker was attempting to illegally circumvent the union. Boeing has since allegedly fought any effort by Charleston workers to unionize.

Boeing said in 2020 that it would consolidate 787 production in Charleston instead of splitting it between South Carolina and Washington, a move which was completed the following year.

TPG had a chance to tour the factory last December ahead of an event marking United Airlines' new order for up to 200 airplanes .

Saying that Boeing makes the Dreamliners at its factory is a bit misleading because Boeing — just like Airbus, Embraer and other airframe makers — doesn't actually manufacture much of the plane itself.

More: The 787 Dreamliner: What are the differences between an -8, -9 and -10?

Instead, the company outsources components to specialized manufacturers, while building a few parts itself. Then, Boeing gathers each of the components and assembles them as the final product.

So really, the Charleston facility is more of an assembly plant.

boeing assembly plant tour

Because of this, as you drive around the facility, which is located on the grounds of the airport, you won't only see 787s in various states of completion. You'll also spot a rare aircraft type: Boeing's custom "Dreamlifter."

The Dreamlifter is a converted 747-400 with roughly triple the cargo volume thanks to its bulbous hull. Boeing designed the type in the mid-2000s specifically to transport large components for the 787 — such as wings — from suppliers to its manufacturing plant. Other oversized cargo aircraft at the time were too small.

boeing assembly plant tour

The four Dreamlifters, which are operated for Boeing by cargo carrier Atlas Air, primarily pick up Dreamliner wings, made by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan, as well as several fuselage sections, frames, horizontal stabilizers and other parts from Leonardo in Italy, and drop them off in Charleston.

The Dreamlifters also deliver disassembled sections of the main fuselage, which are built by several suppliers including Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kansas, Leonardo in Italy and Kawasaki in Japan. Meanwhile, thousands of other components are shipped using a variety of modes of transportation.

During TPG's visit, two of the Dreamlifters were on-site.

Boeing still builds some components itself, though — in particular the aft section, or back, of the airplane.

boeing assembly plant tour

Unfortunately, Boeing asked us to agree not to photograph some parts of the facility, since it uses proprietary technology and methods in the manufacturing process. Still, we were able to get a look and take photos in some areas.

boeing assembly plant tour

Once the aft section is completed, workers bring it over to a final assembly building.

There, the aft section is joined to the fuselage, and the wings and other structures are attached to the main body. The plane moves down the assembly line, and the aircraft interiors are installed, along with flight control systems. The vertical stabilizer has already been painted by the time the plane enters final assembly, and the livery is applied to the rest of the aircraft once it completes its run through the assembly line.

boeing assembly plant tour

Finishing touches are put on, and each individual airplane is flown for a grueling test program before being delivered. During TPG's tour, a 787-9 bound for Turkish Airlines landed after returning from nearly three hours of testing over the Atlantic Ocean.

boeing assembly plant tour

The Charleston facility has 787s parked all around waiting to be delivered. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered 787 deliveries to pause in mid-2021 after numerous concerns arose surrounding Boeing's quality control process in Charleston. Deliveries resumed late last summer .

Because of the year-plus pause in deliveries, which came just as air travel demand was beginning to return following pandemic-era lows, Boeing is working to get a backlog of completed airplanes to airline customers.

boeing assembly plant tour

Between the pandemic and the delivery pause, the company also slowed the production line. Boeing is targeting a rate of five completed Dreamliners each month, according to Lisa Fahl, senior director of quality.

The line peaked at 14 new airplanes per month between Charleston and Everett, Fahl said, suggesting that output could scale up in the future.

It's not clear when production will speed up, but as United's order demonstrates, there's heavy demand for new Dreamliners — and there will likely continue to be for years to come.

Show Me Seattle

Boeing Everett Factory Tour from Seattle

Quick Details

  • Hour Glass Duration: 4.5 hours
  • Clock Start Time: 8:45 a.m.
  • Bus Meeting Location: Pickup from a convenient location in downtown Seattle [address provided at booking confirmation]
  • Clock Pickup Time: Please be ready for pickup at 8:45am and allow 10 minutes for traffic
  • Info Tour Length: 4.5 Hours from Pickup to Dropoff
  • Dollar Price: Adult: $120.00 Children 12 and under: $90.00

Experience the modern marvel of commercial jet production on our Boeing factory tours

Round trip transportation and Boeing Everett factory tour tickets are included in this guided excursion from downtown Seattle to the wonders of the Boeing Factory!

The Boeing assembly plant is home to legendary planes like the 747, 777 and the world’s most advanced jetliner the 787 Dreamliner. You’ll have an opportunity to learn about Boeing’s long and storied history, go inside the world’s largest building to view airplanes in various stages of assembly and hang out on the “Strato Deck” for some plane spotting. This visit also includes the Future of Flight Gallery which offers interesting interactive exhibits, a flight simulator, and a mockup of the ultra-modern Dreamliner Interior.

Want to see photos and learn more about the tour? Read detailed tour information here.

TRANSPORTATION

Guided coach service to and from the factory located 35 miles north of downtown Seattle

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO ON OUR BOEING SEATTLE TOUR

Safety Requirements:

– Children must be at least 4 feet (122 cm) tall to go on the tour.

– Carrying children on the tour is not allowed for safety reasons.

– Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Restricted Items:

This is a hands-free tour. Complimentary lockers are available to use in the lobby. Please store all belongings before your tour time begins.

Items  not  allowed on the Boeing Everett Factory Tour:

No purses, handbags, waist pouches or backpacks No binoculars and electronics including cameras, video equipment or drones No phones or tablets No food or drinks No weapons No smoking or vaping

Accessibility:

Boeing Future of Flight is an accessible facility. Show Me Seattle tour vehicles do not have a wheelchair lift, but we can store wheelchairs and mobility scooters that fold or collapse. Guests must be able to climb 3 stairs to board the coach.

Participation on the Boeing Everett Factory Tour requires traveling approximately .3 miles (.5km) round trip. There are flights of stairs to navigate; however, elevators are accessible on all floors at Boeing Future of Flight and the Boeing Everett Factory Tour. The Future of Flight has a limited number of wheelchairs available for guests to use, please let Show Me Seattle know at the time of booking if you will need a wheelchair.

Related Tours

  • Hour Glass 3 hours

3 Hour Sightseeing Seattle Tour

Experience the best of the city with a small group of no more than 14 guests! Great way to get to know all of Seattle in a short amount of time, we’ll explore all the major attractions and give you a glimpse into the charming neighborhoods that make Seattle unique.

Boeing is upping production of its best-selling 737 and 787 airliners as travel continues to boom. See inside the factory where the MAX planes are built.

  • Boeing announced a $149 million loss for the second quarter, though it still exceeded analyst expectations.
  • The planemaker's defense and space arms brought it into the negative despite increased commercial deliveries.
  • Boeing plans to increase production of its 737 and 787 aircraft between now and 2026.

Boeing said it had a net loss of $149 million in the second quarter, despite improved delivery performance.

boeing assembly plant tour

Source: Boeing

Its space and defense arms are to blame, Boeing said, including a $257 million loss due to the delayed launch of its crewed Starliner aircraft.

boeing assembly plant tour

Source: Boeing , Insider

However, the overall results are still above analyst expectations. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said the company increased deliveries.

boeing assembly plant tour

"With demand strong, we're steadily increasing our production rates across key programs and growing investments in our people, products and technologies," he said.

boeing assembly plant tour

In the second quarter, Boeing delivered 136 planes — that compares to 121 during the same time in 2022. The total first half deliveries also increased from 216 to 266.

boeing assembly plant tour

Moreover, the company plans to up the production of its 737 and 787 Dreamliner jets. The MAX is ramping up from 31 per month to 38 per month with a target of 50 per month by 2025-2026.

boeing assembly plant tour

Meanwhile, Boeing is increasing its Dreamliner output to four per month, with a goal of five per month by the end of 2023 and 10 per month by 2025-2026.

boeing assembly plant tour

The increases come as both jets have racked up several orders since the new year — particularly the 787 with over 200 purchased from carriers like United Airlines and Air India.

boeing assembly plant tour

Source: Insider

The MAX hasn't fallen behind, either, with a 150-strong order from European low-cost carrier Ryanair in May, with options for another 150.

boeing assembly plant tour

Source: Ryanair

The variant chosen is the 737 MAX 10, which is the family's largest variant. At full list price, the deal is worth over $40 billion.

boeing assembly plant tour

However, the MAX 10 is still not certified to fly due to stricter guidance that was implemented in response to the MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019, which killed 346 people and led to a worldwide grounding of the plane.

boeing assembly plant tour

One item involved Boeing adding another system to the MAX 10 cockpit, but that would make it different enough from other MAX variants that it may turn airlines away.

boeing assembly plant tour

Source: Boeing , Seattle Times

Still, Boeing got a waiver from Congress in December as long as the planemaker adds two specific safety enhancements to all MAX jets three years after the -10s certification.

boeing assembly plant tour

Since the Federal Aviation Administration signed off on the plane's airworthiness in November 2020, airlines have started flying them again.

boeing assembly plant tour

About a year and a half after its ungrounding, Insider toured Boeing's Renton factory to learn more about the 737 MAX final assembly line — take a look.

boeing assembly plant tour

Production of the MAX started in 2015 and is the latest in a large family of 737 jets. Three models — the MAX 8, MAX 9, and MAX 8200 — are currently in service with airlines around the world.

boeing assembly plant tour

To build this family of jets, Boeing's director of 737 program business operations, Dennis Eng, explained the factory is split into three assembly lines — east, west, and center.

boeing assembly plant tour

Currently, the west and center lines are active, and Boeing plans to activate the east side once it has enough staff. The company has been reluctant to increase production until labor and supply shortages normalize.

boeing assembly plant tour

Walking through the factory, Eng said the planes go through 10 different flow days during final assembly, which includes things like hydraulic, wiring, and systems installation, joining the wings to the fuselage, installing the interior, and testing.

boeing assembly plant tour

The fuselage comes complete from Wichita, Kansas, and is built by Spirit AeroSystems. It is then transported via rail to Renton where it is joined to the wings.

boeing assembly plant tour

To join the body is a complicated process, according to Eng, who said workers use cranes and other tools to move parts around the massive building.

boeing assembly plant tour

Because of the complexities, the movements are done during one of the three shifts employees work.

boeing assembly plant tour

When installing economy class seats, Boeing uses a modified hay bail. This process is done during the first shift and completed while the fuselage is still open in the back to make it easier.

boeing assembly plant tour

The planes have their engines and landing gear by the last flow.

boeing assembly plant tour

After final assembly, the jets will complete flight testing out of Boeing Field, be painted in their respective livery, and delivered to their operator.

boeing assembly plant tour

Eng explained Boeing has reimagined its Renton factory over the years to create more efficient processes. Specifically, the planemaker has developed a system that better stages parts to ensure employees have the exact tools they need for each flow.

boeing assembly plant tour

This is done by assembling flow-specific kits that are positioned at each station. This eliminates the need for workers to walk back and forth between the plane and the tool room during shifts.

boeing assembly plant tour

The system improves quality and safety and decreases the risk of plane damage, according to Boeing.

boeing assembly plant tour

We saw a few completed 737 planes at the factory, including Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and a United MAX 10, which Eng said is a test aircraft. It is rare to see the -10 in a completed livery.

boeing assembly plant tour

Delta just ordered 100 Boeing 737 MAX 10 jets to upgrade its narrowbody fleet. Take a look inside one of the test planes.

During our grand tour of Boeing factories, Insider also spent time in Everett where the manufacturer is building cargo planes and other passenger jets, like the 777 and 787.

boeing assembly plant tour

There were several seemingly complete 787 aircraft in the factory, which, at the time of the tour in June, were unable to be delivered due to safety concerns from the Federal Aviation Administration regarding gaps between fuselage sections.

boeing assembly plant tour

American just received the first Boeing 787 delivery in 15 months. Here's why the FAA paused deliveries of the jet and how it impacted airlines.

Boeing finally resumed deliveries of the Dreamliner in August 2022 after years of fixes, with the first being sent to American Airlines.

boeing assembly plant tour

As a special treat, we also saw one of the last 747 planes ever to be built, which is one of three 747-8Fs delivered to cargo carrier Atlas Air in 2022.

boeing assembly plant tour

The final freighter — and the last commercial 747 to be produced by Boeing — rolled off the assembly line in December and was delivered to the cargo giant on January 31.

boeing assembly plant tour

The delivery marked the end of a 54-year era that revolutionized air travel by making international flights affordable for the first time.

boeing assembly plant tour

More airlines are choosing single-aisle jets for flights from North America to Europe — see the full evolution of jet-powered transatlantic flying

boeing assembly plant tour

  • Main content

boeing assembly plant tour

  • Tours & Sightseeing
  • Bus & Minivan Tours

boeing assembly plant tour

Boeing Tour from Seattle

  • 1.5-hour guided tour of Seattle's Boeing factory
  • Guided factory tour
  • See 747, 767, 777 and Dreamliner aircraft
  • Largest building in the world
  • Future of Flight interpretive center and Boeing Tour
  • Transfers included from downtown Seattle hotels

Inclusions & Exclusions

  • Transport by air-conditioned coach from Seattle 35 miles north to the Future of Flight Aviation Center and back
  • Pickup and drop-off at a convenient central location in downtown Seattle
  • Limited seats available for pickup at downtown Seattle hotels
  • Knowledgeable and entertaining local driver
  • Admission tickets to the 90 minute assembly plant tour provided by Boeing staff
  • Local taxes
  • Gratuities (optional)
  • Food and drinks
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off (if option not selected)

Departure & Return

Hotel Pickup Option: Available from downtown Seattle hotels only. Please call local tour operator to find out if your hotel is in the pickup area.  If you are staying outside of the downtown Seattle area, you may need to make your own way to the General Pickup location.General Pickup Option: Charter Bus Zone in front of the Wells Fargo Bank at 1620-4th Avenue between Pine and Stewart Streets next to Westlake Center.

Tour officially begins at approximately 9-9:15am, after the final guest is picked up.Hotel Pickup Option:  Please contact local tour operator to confirm exact pickup time for your hotel; pickups may start as early as 8:25am.  Please allow a time window of up to 15 minutes following the pickup time you are given to allow for traffic and prior pickups.General Pickup Location:  Meeting time is 8:45am.  Please allow a time window of up to 15 minutes to allow for traffic and prior pickups.

What To Expect

Following a hotel pickup, enjoy a 25-minute drive from Seattle to Boeing, the world's largest aerospace company, and their enormous factory north of the city in Everett. Upon arrival for the Boeing Future of Flight factory tour, explore the interactive exhibits and displays in the 28,000-square-foot Aviation Center Gallery. Then take a 90-minute tour with a Boeing representative who will uncover the inner workings of the assembly plant where Boeing airplanes are manufactured, the largest building in the world by volume. See planes like the 747, 767, 777 and 787 Dreamliner as they are being built and watch a short film that will further reveal how a plane is constructed from start to finish. Then stop at the Future of Flight Aviation Center, with interactive exhibits to not only build a plane, but also fly it in a simulator.*Hotel pickup seats are limited. If hotel pick-up is sold out, you will be asked to shift to the general pick-up spot.

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 2 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
  • Please Note: Children must be at least 48inches (122 cm) to participate on tour. Visitors may not carry babies on the tour. There is no child care facility at the Future of Flight Aviation Center, and there are no exceptions to these safety regulations.
  • Hotel pickup and drop off is only available for those staying in downtown Seattle area hotels.
  • No personal items are allowed on the 90 minute assembly plant tour, including: purses, backpacks, cameras, binoculars, cell phones, etc. Lockers are available on-site at the Future of Flight.
  • Boeing does not permit photos, videos, or recordings of any kind during the assembly plant tour.
  • This tour package includes guided transport to and from the Future of Flight Aviation Center - please do not find your own way to the Center as it is not possible to join the Show Me Seattle tour at that point.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel At least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Your Contact Details

Questions or requests.

Do you have questions or specific requests regarding this tour?

  • --> --> --> --> -->