Everett was selected as the final assembly site for the 7E7 after beating bids from over 80 alternative sites. Swayed by substantial tax and other financial incentives from Washington state worth over $3 billion, Boeing says the Everett site requires no major construction and is staffed by a workforce that has shown "tremendous productivity improvements".
Although the exact location of the assembly line within the Everett complex is to be decided, it is expected to be adjacent to the 777 line in one of the two bays erected in 1990 as part of the $1.5 billion expansion of the site when the 777 was launched.
"The Everett facilities are basically ready, it's all there," says 7E7 programme vice-president Mike Bair, who adds that the other bids were "all very competitive, but overall the decision for Everett was compelling".
Source: Flight International