Boeing [NYSE: BA] celebrated the start of construction on an expansion of its Boeing South Carolina (BSC) site, the production home of the 787 Dreamliner. The project supports Boeing’s plan to increase 787 output to 10 aircraft per month by 2026, driven by strong global demand. Announced in late 2024, the expansion includes more than $1 billion in infrastructure upgrades across two campuses near Charleston International Airport and is expected to generate over 1,000 new jobs within five years.
The development will include a new final assembly building comparable in size to the existing 1.2-million-square-foot facility, along with a parts preparation facility, a vertical fin paint building, Flight Line stalls, and enhancements to the Interiors Responsibility Center. Construction, managed by the joint venture of HITT Contracting and BE&K Building Group, will involve more than 2,500 workers and total over 6.2 million labor hours.
The 787 family remains the best-selling widebody aircraft of all time, with more than 2,250 orders from 90 customers worldwide. Following over 1,200 deliveries, the backlog stands at nearly 1,000 aircraft—including more than 300 orders placed this year. Boeing’s Commercial Market Outlook forecasts global demand for more than 7,800 new widebody aircraft over the next 20 years.
“We continue to see tremendous interest in the 787 Dreamliner and its category-leading efficiency. This investment ensures we can meet customer requirements well into the future,” said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The expansion is a testament to our team’s exceptional work and reinforces our commitment to South Carolina and American manufacturing.”
For more than a decade, BSC has overseen the full lifecycle of 787 production—from fabrication and assembly to final delivery of the 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 models. Since establishing operations in 2009, Boeing has grown to employ more than 8,200 people across its North Charleston and Orangeburg facilities.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated, “America’s industrial strength is being renewed, and South Carolina is benefiting from this resurgence. We are proud to support U.S. businesses that create high-quality jobs and reinforce our economic and national security.”
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster added, “Boeing’s $1 billion expansion and 1,000 new jobs reflect confidence in our state’s workforce and business climate. This investment strengthens our position as a global hub for aerospace and advanced manufacturing.”
US Senator Lindsey Graham said, “Boeing’s commitment to increasing 787 production in Charleston confirms the exceptional value of the South Carolina workforce. This expansion will ensure the company’s long-term presence and create meaningful job opportunities.”
Senator Tim Scott commented, “Today’s groundbreaking highlights the ongoing partnership between Boeing and South Carolina. It will bring more than a thousand high-quality jobs and further demonstrate our state’s leadership in workforce development and competitiveness.”
Congressman Jim Clyburn added, “Boeing has played a central role in establishing South Carolina as a leader in aerospace manufacturing. This expansion will create substantial new opportunities for our communities, and I welcome this next phase of growth.”
Boeing is a global aerospace leader and the United States’ largest exporter, designing and manufacturing commercial airplanes, defense systems, and space technologies for customers in more than 150 countries. Its workforce and supply chain drive innovation, economic growth, sustainability, and community impact. The company remains dedicated to upholding safety, quality, and integrity across all operations.
HITT Contracting—one of the nation’s top commercial builders with offices across 14 U.S. markets including Charleston—and BE&K Building Group, a national design-build and construction management firm specializing in aviation and aerospace facilities, have partnered to deliver Boeing’s infrastructure upgrade. The joint venture serves as construction manager, with BRPH as architect of record.
