Boeing to move 787 production to South Carolina

The Boeing Company announced that it will consolidate production of 787 jets at its facility in North Charleston in South Carolina starting in mid-2021, according to the company’s best estimate. The decision comes as the company is strategically taking action to preserve liquidity and reposition certain lines of business in the current global environment to enhance efficiency and improve performance for the long-term. “The Boeing 787 is the tremendous success it is today thanks to our great teammates in Everett. They helped give birth to an airplane that changed how airlines and passengers fly. As our customers manage through the unprecedented global pandemic, to ensure the long-term success of the 787 programme, we are consolidating 787 production in South Carolina,” said Stan Deal, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Our team in Puget Sound will continue to focus on efficiently building our 737,747, 767 and 777 airliner families and both sites will drive Boeing initiatives to further enhance safety, quality, and operational excellence.”

The company began assembling 787-8 and 787-9 airplanes at its Everett site in 2007 and brought the North Charleston facility on line as a second final assembly line in 2010. However, only the North Charleston site is set up to build the larger 787-10 model. Production of the smaller 787 models will continue in Everett until the programme transitions to the previously-announced production rate of six airplanes a month in 2021. Boeing said it is assessing potential impact to employment in Everett and North Charleston and will communicate any changes directly to its employees.