Boeing has officially broken ground on a major expansion of its Boeing South Carolina (BSC) site, the exclusive production home of the 787 Dreamliner. This strategic infrastructure program, representing an investment of more than $1 billion, is designed to significantly boost production capacity in response to robust market demand. The expansion will enable the site to increase its 787 Dreamliner production rate to 10 airplanes per month by 2026.
The ambitious expansion plan, announced in late 2024, includes constructing a new final assembly building that will be similar in size to the existing 1.2-million-square-foot facility. The project scope also encompasses a new parts preparation area, a vertical fin paint facility, additional Flight Line stalls at the Airport Campus, and enhancements to the Interiors Responsibility Center. This investment is expected to create more than 1,000 new jobs at Boeing over the next five years, further solidifying its South Carolina workforce. The construction phase alone will employ over 2,500 people through a joint venture, logging an estimated 6.2 million construction hours.
This expansion is driven by the 787’s status as the best-selling widebody passenger airplane of all time. With over 2,250 orders from 90 customers globally and a current backlog of nearly 1,000 airplanes, the demand for the 787 family remains strong. This growth aligns with the broader commercial aviation industry’s projected need for more than 7,800 new widebody airplanes over the next two decades, as outlined in Boeing’s Commercial Market Outlook.
Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, stated that this investment ensures Boeing is prepared to meet customer needs for decades to come, calling it a testament to the work of Boeing teammates and a deepening of the company’s commitment to South Carolina and American manufacturing.
Elected officials applauded the move. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent linked it to the restoration of America’s industrial base. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster called it a “tremendous vote of confidence” in the state’s people and business climate, highlighting the new jobs and economic prosperity it will bring. U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott, along with Congressman Jim Clyburn, also celebrated the expansion for creating high-quality jobs, reinforcing South Carolina’s leadership in aerospace, and validating the skilled local workforce.
