iscover
Boeing has broken ground on an expansion of its South Carolina site, home to its 787 Dreamliner program, as it plans to ramp up production.
The planemaker is pouring more than US$1 billion into the project, which will include a new final assembly building, parts preparation area facility, vertical fin paint facility, flight line stalls, and additions to the interior components manufacturing facilities.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
There is currently a backlog of almost 1,000 787 family aircraft, with 1,200 having been delivered since its commercial launch, and Boeing plans to increase Dreamliner production to 10 per month starting in 2026.
Boeing estimated in its Commercial Market Outlook that airlines will need more than 7,800 new wide-body planes over the next 20 years.
“We continue to see strong demand for the 787 Dreamliner family and its market-leading efficiency and versatility,” said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
“We are making this significant investment today to ensure Boeing is ready to meet our customers’ needs in the years and decades ahead.
“This site expansion is a testament to the incredible work of our Boeing teammates and deepens our commitment to them, to South Carolina, and to American manufacturing.”
Dreamliner customers include Qantas, which operates 14 787-9s, while Jetstar operates 11 787-8s; the Flying Kangaroo has ordered another 12 Dreamliners, along with 12 A350s from rival Airbus, to phase out its older A330s. Qantas received its last 787, VH-ZNN Snowy River, in July 2023.
Speaking in 2023, then-Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the new aircraft – including four 787-9s and eight 787-10s, alongside 12 A350-1000s – would be part of the national carrier’s fleet for decades.
“Both the 787 and A350 and the GE and Rolls Royce engines fitted to them are thoroughly proven and extremely capable,” he said.
“These are generational decisions for this company. The aircraft will arrive over a decade or more, and they’ll be part of the fleet for 20 years.
“They’ll unlock new routes and better travel experiences for customers and new jobs and promotions for our people.”
Boeing has also received the go-ahead from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to increase 737 MAX production from 38 to 42 per month; however, delivery of its first 777X – the update to its popular 777 wide-body family – has been delayed to 2027.
