Boeing Breaks Ground on $1B SC Manufacturing Expansion

KEY POINTS

• Boeing launched a $1 billion expansion of its 787 Dreamliner facilities in North Charleston, South Carolina, to increase production to 10 aircraft per month by 2026.

• The project is expected to create 1,000 new jobs over the next five years and employ approximately 2,500 construction workers during construction.

• Boeing is addressing growing demand for widebody aircraft, with nearly 1,000 787 Dreamliners in backlog and a projected need for 7,800 new widebody airplanes over the next 20 years.

Boeing announced on Friday that it had broken ground on a $1 billion expansion of its 787 Dreamliner manufacturing facilities in North Charleston, South Carolina, as the aerospace manufacturer prepares to boost production to 10 aircraft per month by 2026.

Details of the Build

In late 2024, Boeing revealed plans to expand and enhance its facilities near Charleston International Airport and at a secondary campus. The expansion will add a second 1.2 million-square-foot final assembly building, new support infrastructure, and increase the site’s flight line capacity.

Dedicated facilities for parts preparation, vertical fin painting, and additional flight line stalls are also planned for construction. Contractors will upgrade the Interiors Responsibility Center, which manufactures several components for the Dreamliner cabin.

Construction Employment

Boeing estimates that the project will create approximately 1,000 new jobs over a five-year period and employ 2,500 construction workers during its construction phase.

HITT Contracting and BE&K Building Group are overseeing construction. The company anticipates the joint venture between contractors will require over 6.2 million construction hours.

A rendering of Boeing’s second 787 Final Assembly Building near Charleston International Airport, SC. Image: Boeing

Boeing’s South Carolina Wingspan

Currently, Boeing employs more than 8,200 people in South Carolina, with operations in North Charleston and Orangeburg producing 787 structures, including the aft and mid-fuselage sections.

The current project will span the company’s main site near Charleston International Airport, as well as a secondary location in the region.

Airplane Demand Driving Growth, and Construction

In a press release, Boeing said that more than 90 customers worldwide have placed over 2,250 orders for the 787 Dreamliner family, solidifying its status as the best-selling widebody passenger aircraft in history.

With over 1,200 deliveries completed, the 787 program still has a backlog of nearly 1,000 airplanes, including more than 300 new orders secured this year alone, according to company officials.

A demand for more than 7,800 new widebody airplanes across the commercial aviation sector over the next 20 years is projected by Boeing’s Commercial Market Outlook.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stephanie Pope said, “We are making this significant investment today to ensure Boeing is ready to meet our customers’ needs in the years and decades ahead.”

South Carolina Manufacturing Hub

South Carolina has been the hub for the complete production cycle of the 787 Dreamliner for over a decade. All three Dreamliner models are fabricated, assembled, and delivered from locations in the Palmetto State. Models sold to Boeing’s worldwide customers include the 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10.

Since beginning operations in South Carolina in 2009, the company has grown to employ more than 8,200 people across its campuses in North Charleston and Orangeburg.

An image from the groundbreaking ceremony for Boeing South Carolina’s $1 billion expansion of its 787 Dreamliner facilities in North Charleston. Held on November 7, 2025, the event featured notable attendees, including Mayor Reggie Burgess of North Charleston, Scott Stocker (787 Vice President and Boeing South Carolina Site Leader), Stephanie Pope (BCA President and CEO), U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, and others. Image:  Boeing

The nonresidential construction project forms part of Boeing’s broader strategy to increase 787 output and stabilize its widebody production lines, ensuring higher output rates and added flexibility.

Stay Connected