Industry Boeing to consolidate 787 production in South Carolina

As the pandemic is continuing to have its impact on the airline and aircraft industry, U.S.-American aircraft manufacturer Boeing had now to consolidate production of 787 Dreamliner jets at its facility in North Charleston from mid-2021 onward.

According to Boeing, this decision was made in order to take strategic action to preserve liquidity and to reposition lines of business in the current global environment. The decision is also one for the long-term to improve performance.

"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 want to fly. As our customers manage through the unprecedented global pandemic, to ensure the long-term success of the 787 program, we are consolidating 787 production in South Carolina," said Stan Deal, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

In 2007, Boeing started to produce the 787 Dreamliner at its facility in Everett, where the team gave birth to the first aircraft. In 2010, the North Charleston facility joined and was destined to also produce the larger 787-10 Dreamliner.

In Everett, Boeing will continue to produce six 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft a month in 2021, until the program transitions to South Carolina. In Puget Sound, Boeing will continue to build the 737, 747, 767 and 777 aircraft families.

This Summer, Boeing released an in-depth study, in which the manufacturer examines the impacts of having a single-site 787 production line. Boeing said in a statement: "The 787 study is part of an enterprise review underway to reassess all aspects of Boeing's facility footprint, organizational structure, portfolio and investment mix, and supply chain health and stability."

"We recognize that production decisions can impact our teammates, industry and our community partners [...] We extensively evaluated every aspect of the program and engaged with our stakeholders on how we can best partner moving forward. These efforts will further refine 787 production and enhance the airplane's value proposition," Deal added.