Planemaker Can Triple Its Footprint In The North Charleston Area

North Charleston, SC is hoping for a major expansion by Boeing after the planemaker announced a $49 million land acquisition deal around its existing Dreamliner assembly plant. The acquisition came on the heels of an announcement by Boeing that it would create hundreds of new research jobs in the Charleston area.

The online news aggregator IMPO reports that while Boeing is being mum about its plans for all the land it now controls, some analysts say that it is a possible precursor to a move of all 787 production to the east coast. For now, all Boeing will say is that it plans to put a Dreamliner paint facility at that location.

Boeing's plans also call for a second autoclave to be added to the site in 2016. That would allow the planemaker to ramp up composite fabrication at the plant.

Analyst Saj Ahmad with StrategicAero Research in the U.K. said the land acquisition is fueling the speculation of a move of all 787 production to South Carolina. "You don't buy that much land and do nothing with it," he said. "It's only a matter of time before all 787's emerge from Charleston."

Analyst Scott Hamilton of Washington State-based Leeham Company said one day Boeing's South Carolina operation will rival that of the Everett, WA campus. He said the 787-10 is "going to be built down there."

While Hamilton did not say 777X production was destined for South Carolina, it is likely that Boeing's next new airplane, which would be a replacement for the 757, would be built in North Charleston. The 757 is expected to be out of service by 2030.

(Dreamliner assembly in North Charleston image provided by Boeing)

FMI: www.boeing.com