Boeing Begins $1 Billion Expansion in South Carolina to Boost 787 Dreamliner Production
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — Boeing today marked a major milestone as it broke ground on a more than US $1 billion investment to expand its South Carolina manufacturing site dedicated to the 787 Dreamliner programme.
The expansion will take place at Boeing’s campus near Charleston International Airport and is designed to support rising global demand for wide-body aircraft. Airbnb The new infrastructure will include a roughly 1.2 million-square-foot final-assembly building, production support and office space, as well as added facilities for parts preparation, vertical-fin painting and flight-line work.
The goal is to raise production of the 787 to 10 aircraft per month by 2026, up from the current rate (about seven per month). The company also expects to create more than 1,000 new jobs over the next five years and employ around 2,500 people during construction (which will span roughly 6.2 million worker-hours).
According to Boeing executives, the move sends a strong message of confidence in the South Carolina workforce and underscores Boeing’s commitment to American manufacturing. “We continue to see strong demand for the 787 Dreamliner family … This site expansion is a testament to the incredible work of our Boeing teammates and deepens our commitment to them, to South Carolina, and to American manufacturing,” said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
