Boeing has begun construction on a major expansion of its South Carolina site, home to the 787 Dreamliner program, as the company prepares to ramp up production amid growing demand for long-haul aircraft.
The project, valued at more than $1 billion, will add a second 787 final assembly building and several new support facilities, including a parts preparation area, vertical fin paint facility, and Flight Line stalls. Boeing said the investment will create more than 1,000 jobs over the next five years and employ 2,500 construction workers through contractors HITT Contracting and BE&K Building Group.
Increased Production Capacity
When complete, the expansion will enable Boeing to increase 787 output to 10 aircraft per month by 2026, restoring production to pre-pandemic levels. The company currently builds all Dreamliner models — the 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 — in North Charleston, where it employs about 8,200 people across two campuses.
The South Carolina project underscores Boeing’s commitment to expanding its U.S. manufacturing footprint after a turbulent period for the aerospace giant. Demand for widebody aircraft has rebounded as airlines renew long-haul fleets and international travel returns. Boeing reports a 787 backlog nearing 1,000 planes, with more than 300 new orders placed this year.
State leaders hailed the investment as a boost for South Carolina’s growing aerospace sector, which already supports tens of thousands of jobs. The state has become one of the country’s leading centers for aircraft manufacturing since Boeing opened its first Dreamliner facility there in 2009.
Boeing’s expansion also comes as the company works to strengthen supply chains and improve delivery performance following a series of quality-control and certification challenges that have affected its commercial airplane division in recent years.
Boeing’s North Charleston facility, located next to Charleston International Airport—which is also undergoing a major expansion—produces all three variants of the 787 Dreamliner, the world’s best-selling widebody passenger aircraft, adding to South Carolina’s booming aviation and manufacturing sector.
Project Factsheet: Boeing 787 Dreamliner Expansion – North Charleston, South Carolina
Project Overview
Major expansion of Boeing’s South Carolina manufacturing campus to increase 787 Dreamliner production capacity and support growing demand for widebody aircraft.
Investment: $1+ billion
New Jobs: 1,000+ permanent positions over 5 years
Construction Workforce: 2,500 workers
Production Target: 10 aircraft per month by 2026
Current Backlog: Nearly 1,000 planes (~300 orders in current year)
Scope of Work
Second 787 final assembly building
Parts preparation area
Vertical fin paint facility
New Flight Line stalls
Multiple support facilities
Boeing South Carolina Expansion: Timeline & Capacity
Completion Target: 2026
Production Goal: Restore to pre-pandemic output levels (10 aircraft/month)
Aircraft Models: 787-8, 787-9, 787-10 (all variants)
Contractors
HITT Contracting (prime contractor)
BE&K Building Group (prime contractor)
Employment
Current Site Employment: 8,200 employees across two campuses
Post-Expansion: 9,200+ employees
Strategic Context
Expansion responds to rebounding international travel and airline fleet modernization. Represents Boeing’s commitment to U.S. manufacturing capacity following recent quality-control challenges and supply chain disruptions. South Carolina has been Boeing’s Dreamliner hub since 2009.
