New Boeing 737 Assembly Plant

In order to keep up with its order book backlog, Boeing began re-tooling its 747 assembly line at its Everett, WA facility. The manufacturer has now announced that 06 July 2026 will be date for the Everett "North Line" to open. The new assembly will focus on the 737-10, which is due to be certified by the end of this year, and will also build 737-8s and 737-9s, to help drive down the order backlog.

Further information in this Boeing Media news report.

United Airlines To Take Delivery of 250+ Airliners By 2028

United Airlines announced today, that between now and 2028, they will take delivery of over 250 new airliners. That includes: 47 787-9s with the "Elevated" cabin, 119 737MAX series (breakdown not specified), 40 A321-200N "Coastliners", 28 A321XLRs; and 18 A321-200Ns. It's not known which of these aircraft will serve Hawai‘i after delivery. The A321neos will be replacing the airline's aging 757-200s.

Though not affecting Hawai‘i, United Airlines is also launching the Mitsubishi CRJ450, which is an upgraded CRJ200, that will be operated by SkyWest Airlines. United has 50 CRJ450s on order with Mitsubishi, and expects to have all 50 by the end of 2028.

On a related note, Simple Flying noted that United has canceled its order for 45 A350-900s with Airbus.

Skymark Airlines Unveils Modified Livery

Skymark Airlines will launch a new livery with the arrival of their 737-8s next year. The dark blue of the tail will extend to the aft fuselage. Two hearts will adorn the winglets in place of the other icons that appear on their current 737-800s. Deliveries for their 737-10s will commence as soon as the variant receives its certification.

Further information in this Le Journal De L'Aviation article.

FAA Clears Boeing 737 Production Uptick

Aviation Week reports that the Federal Aviation Administration has cleared Boeing to boost production of the 737MAX series from 38 per month to 42 per month. Boeing expects to do the increased production by the end of this year. The aircraft manufacturer seeks to bump up production to another five airframes every six months, pending safety and quality reviews.

Final Stored 737MAX Leaves Storage at MWH

Air China's B-20DJ (c/n 60923, l/n 7813) is the last 737MAX series to leave the long-term storage from the grounding and pandemic. This 737-8 departed MWH for VCV on 12 August, and is flying to BFI today as BOE276. It has been re-registered as N247BE, as Boeing will ferry it to HSN.

Boeing created a "shadow rework factory" at MWH as a result of the grounding in March 2019, after the two accidents involving 737-8s. Coupled with the Corona Virus pandemic, the groundings extended to late 2020. China-bound 737-8s were grounded even longer due to Chinese re-certification delays. There are currently a dozen 737-8s destined for Chinese airlines that are part of the grounded group.

Further information in this CH-Aviation article.

Malaysia Airlines Looks To Acquire Chinese 737 Re-markets

Should airlines from China decide to allow Boeing to re-market their 737-8s ready for delivery, or defer their orders with the current trade disagreement going on, there is a list of airlines lining up in interest of the potential 737-8 re-markets, as well as taking over construction and delivery slots.

Malaysia Airlines expressed interest in acquiring the two Xiamen Air 737-8s that were returned to Boeing, and ferried back to BFI. The two 737-8s would need to be repainted, and have the cabin configured to Malaysia Airlines' current layout. Malaysia Aviation Group is also interested in at least ten of the remaining 22 China-bound 737-8s sitting at BFI, MWH, and VCV ready for delivery.

Air India Express acquired 55 737-8s from several Chinese airlines, as the airlines deferred deliveries after the pandemic, and the 737-8 re-certification. They currently have four of the 55 remaining to be delivered.

Further details in this Reuters article, and this CH-Aviation article.

29 April 2025 UPDATE

CH-Aviation.com reports that Air India Express has joined the list of airlines interested in the remaining China-bound 737-8s sitting in storage. CH-Aviation also reports that Riyadh Air is interested in the China-bound 787-9s, that may not be taken up.

Malaysia Airlines Orders 30 More 737MAXs

Malaysia Airlines announced a confirmation of an order of an additional 30 737MAX series airliners, with an option for another 30, today. The airline says the order is broken into 18 737-8s and 12 737-10s, with deliveries expected to begin in 2027. Malaysia Airlines originally ordered 25 737-8s under lease from Air Lease Corp, but was disclosed if the additional 30 will be leased or purchased.

Further information in this CH-Aviation.com article.

China To Delay 737MAX Deliveries

CH-Aviation reports that the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) is delaying any 737MAX series deliveries until the batteries that power the new 25-hour cockpit voice recorders (CVRs) are reviewed. Earlier this month, Congress mandated that the FAA requires CVRs in new-builds must have the new 25-hour CVRs, instead of the current two-hour versions. The EASA has required the use of 25-hour CVRs for the past three years. Currently, there over 60 737-8s for Chinese carriers in testing or in storage.

Boeing To Re-market More China-Bound 737MAXs

Leeham News and Analysis reports that Boeing will re-market more 737MAXs that were ordered by Chinese airlines, and are sitting in storage due to FAA upgrades and directives, and US-China foreign trade relations.  55 of these 737-8s will be re-marketed to Air India as part of their massive 150 737MAX order. The airlines of whose those 55 737-8s belonged to, were not disclosed, and will be painted in the new Air India livery.

There are 140 completed 737-8s bound for Chinese airlines, sitting on ramps at BFI, MWH, SKF, and VCV in storage awaiting delivery. With the 55 going to Air India, that number will drop to 85, once those 737-8s are configured and upgraded for its new airline.

This past April, both China Southern (26) and China Eastern (5) announced that they will take delivery of  their 737-8s sitting in storage, neither airline has begun delivery flights. Probably due to the directives and trade issues.

The Hainan Air Group has already sold off most of their 737-8s they had stored on the mainland, a majority was acquired by United Airlines. A few Hainan Air Group 737-8s are sitting on ramps in storage: two for Fuzhou Airlines and one for Lucky Air.

737 MAX Grounding Effect on Hawai‘i

With the global grounding of 737 MAX 8s and MAX 9s, due to the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines MAX 8 crashes, the impact to MAX service to Hawai‘i has been minimal.

Here are the MAX flights affected:

Air Canada's two daily flights between YVR and HNL, and YVR and OGG. Both flights have been combined to a 777-300ER (HNL) and a 787-9 (OGG). The airline's flights to KOA and LIH have been cancelled.

United Airlines has MAX 9 flights from SFO to OGG and KOA have been cancelled, as well as LAX to OGG. LAX to KOA has been replaced by a -900ER.

Boeing has also suspended all MAX delivery flights until the grounding is lifted. MAX customer test flights will continue.

Boeing's Zhoushan 737 MAX Center

Aviation Week reports that Boeing will open a completion center in Zhoushan, China, in late 2018, for Chinese airlines that ordered 737 MAXs. The completion center will paint the exterior, conduct customer test flights, and have a delivery center for an average of eight to ten airframes per month. Aircraft heading to Zhoushan will have the protective green layer as they cross the Pacific.

Samoa Airways To Lease A 737MAX

CH-Aviation reports that Samoa Airways will lease a 737MAX from the Icelandair Group, and plans to launch operations beginning in November. Icelandair has 16 MAXs on order.

Boeing's N8704Q

Boeing's 737-8 MAX test aircraft N8704Q (c/n 36988, l/n 5788), is returning to BFI from a certification test stint at DRW [Darwin International / RAAF Airport, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia], with stops at GUM and HNL, and flying as BOE104.

After the test phase completed, it will be delivered to Southwest Airlines with the same registration (f/n 8704).

Fiji Airways Orders 737 MAX8s

Boeing and Fiji Airways announced that the airline will order five 737 MAX8s as replacement for its current 737NG fleet. The first two are slated for delivery in 2018.

Further details in this Airways Magazine article.

Malaysia Orders 25 737 MAX8s

Malaysia Airlines has placed an order with Boeing for 25 737 MAX8s, and hold the option for 25 more MAX8s or MAX9s. No date was given for delivery of their first MAX8.

Unidentified Chinese Carrier Orders 30 737s

At the Farnborough International Airshow, Boeing announced that an unidentified Chinese carrier has placed an order for a mix of 737NGs and 737 MAXs.

Kunming To Order 10 737 MAX 7s

Boeing announced today that Kunming Airlines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for an order of ten 737 MAX 7s, at the Farnborough International Airshow.

Donghai Airlines To Order 30 Boeing Jets

At the Farnborough International Airshow, Boeing announced that Donghai Airlines has signed an Intent to Purchase for 25 737 MAX 8s and five 787-9s. Donghai currently has an outstanding order for 15 737-800s and ten 737 MAX 8s, and have two 737-83Zs on the BFI flightline ready for delivery.

Xiamen Air To Order The 737 MAX 200

Boeing announced at the Farnborough International Airshow that Xiamen Air signed an Memorandum of Understanding to purchase up to 30 737 MAX 200s. The new Boeings could be allocated to its Jiangxi Airlines and Hebei Airlines subsidiaries. This MoU still needs approval from the Xiamen Air board, China Southern Airlines board, and the Chinese government.

VietJet Orders 100 737 MAX 200s

VietJet [VJ/VJC] (Viet Nam) placed an order with Boeing today for 100 737 MAX 200s, with deliveries beginning in 2019. The MAX 200, a 200-seat high-density version of the MAX 8, has an extra door between the overwing exits and the aft door (similar to the -900ER).

We are not sure if these deliveries will stop through Hawai‘i, but there is a 50% chance that they will.

Further details in this Boeing MediaRoom press release.