Boeing has begun construction on its Boeing South Carolina (BSC) site expansion, home of the 787 Dreamliner programme. The expansion will support increased production, with the company targeting 10 aircraft per month by 2026.

The $1 billion investment will upgrade Boeing’s campuses near Charleston International Airport, creating more than 1,000 new jobs over the next five years. It will include a new final assembly building similar in size to the current one at around 1.2 million square feet, a parts preparation facility, a vertical fin paint facility, Flight Line stalls, and additions to the Interiors Responsibility Center.

The project will employ over 2,500 construction workers and take more than 6.2 million labour hours, managed by the joint venture of HITT Contracting and BE&K Building Group.

“We continue to see strong demand for the 787 Dreamliner family and its market-leading efficiency and versatility,” says Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Stephanie Pope. “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.”

Local leaders have welcomed the project. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster says it is “a tremendous vote of confidence in our state’s people and business climate.” Senator Lindsey Graham adds that it “will create more jobs and ensure the viability of Boeing in South Carolina for decades to come.”

Boeing established operations in South Carolina in 2009 and now employs more than 8,200 people across its campuses in North Charleston and Orangeburg.