Boeing has broken ground on a major $1 billion expansion of its Boeing South Carolina (BSC) site, home to the 787 Dreamliner program. This strategic investment, driven by strong market demand, will increase production capacity to a rate of 10 airplanes per month by 2026. The expansion is a direct response to the 787’s status as the best-selling widebody passenger airplane of all time, with a current backlog of nearly 1,000 aircraft.
The infrastructure program includes a new final assembly building similar in size to the existing 1.2-million-square-foot facility. It will also add a parts preparation area, a vertical fin paint facility, and expansions to the Interiors Responsibility Center. This development is expected to create more than 1,000 new jobs over the next five years, bolstering American manufacturing and the local economy.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stephanie Pope stated the investment ensures the company is ready to meet customer needs for decades, highlighting the 787 Dreamliner’s market-leading efficiency and versatility. The construction phase alone will employ over 2,500 people.
The announcement was met with strong support from government officials, including U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who linked the growth to a restored industrial base, and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, who praised it as a vote of confidence in the state’s workforce and pro-business environment. Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott, along with Congressman Jim Clyburn, emphasized the creation of high-paying jobs and the reinforcement of South Carolina’s leadership in the aerospace industry.
For over a decade, BSC has managed the full 787 Dreamliner production cycle, and this expansion significantly deepens Boeing’s long-term commitment to South Carolina and its more than 8,200 current employees.
