The Boeing factory tour, part of the company’s Future of Flight experience in Mukilteo, Washington, will soon be back. The tour, put on hold in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to resume next week. The tours give the visitors a look at Boeing from the inside out.
“Our Boeing tour guides are brand ambassadors and are a diverse group of employees who are knowledgeable and passionate,” said Norman Mah, Boeing spokesperson. “The guides provide the public an inside look at the airplane assembly process with opportunities to learn about The Boeing Company’s deep roots in the Puget Sound area.”
The tour begins at the Boeing Future of Flight Aviation Center with a short video on the history of the aircraft manufacturing giant and a safety briefing. Because it is a working factory, there are rules, such as no photography, including phones.
Visitors are bused to the factory and allowed to access a balcony that provides a bird’s-eye view of the famous assembly facility that has produced some of the most iconic aircraft in history, such as the Boeing 777, 787 Dreamliner, 767, and the 747 that revolutionized commercial air travel.
This is not the same tour that was done pre-pandemic, says Mah noting “The company has made enhancements including an updated route and accompanying visual components throughout the experience.”
The tour takes approximately 80 minutes and includes a bus tour of the Boeing campus. Mah recommends buying tickets early, as the tours often sell out weeks in advance.
The factory building itself is a modern marvel, owning the record for largest building in the world by volume at 98 million cubic feet. The structure spans some 98.3 acres.
The tours begin Thursday, October 5. It is recommended that tickets be purchased in advance as they are the No. 1 tourist attraction in Washington, drawing some 300,000 annually.
“We are thrilled to reopen our factory tour experience to pilots and enthusiasts who want to see how Boeing airplanes are assembled and learn about the company’s role as a global leader in aviation,” Mah said.
Ticket prices vary, and there are discounts for Boeing employees and seniors over 65 with valid ID.
