Breaks Ground On 1.2M SF Facility In North Charleston, South Carolina

Boeing broke ground on a $1 billion expansion of its 787 Dreamliner facility in North Charleston, South Carolina, ahead of an increase in production of the widebody to 10 aircraft per month in 2026.

The new construction will double the size with the addition of a second 1.2-million-square-foot final assembly building, new support facilities, and more flight line capacity. Fabrication, final assembly, and delivery of all variants of the Dreamliner are all being done at the site.

According to Boeing, the project will employ 2,500 construction workers to build the facility and is expected to create 1,000 new jobs over the next five years. HITT Contracting and BE&K Building Group Building Group are managing the construction work.

The project will occupy sites on Boeing’s main campus near Charleston International Airport (KCHS) as well as a second site in Organgeburg.

The project includes:

•  A new 787 final assembly building housing production positions, support functions, and offices

•  A parts preparation facility, a vertical fin paint building, and additional flight line stalls

•  Additions to the Interiors Responsibility Center, which produces many Dreamliner cabin components

Boeing employs more than 8,200 people across both facilities in South Carolina. The company currently has an order book for about 1,000 more Dreamliners and has already delivered over 1,200 of the long-haul model. About 90 customers have ordered over 2,250 of the Dreamliner model.

Stephanie Pope, CEO of Commercial Airplanes for Boeing said, “We continue to see strong demand for the 787 Dreamliner family and its efficiency and versatility,” and called the project a renewed commitment to South Carolina’s aerospace sector.

FMI:  www.boeing.com/