Uncover 5 key Insights about Boeing’s South Carolina facility

Have you ever wondered about Boeing aircraft that’s made in Washington State? In fact the 737 is built in Renton-while the 767 and 777X. It's brought to life in nearby Everett. There is one aircraft that wasn’t created in Washington.

Since 1916, Washington has been the home of the remaining headquarters of the Boeing Commercial Airplanes division. The high demand built two assembly lines for the plane in Everett and another in Charleston-South Carolina. 

The Birthplace of the 1000th dreamliner

9V-SCP came from Charleston & is currently based in Singapore

Typically, aircraft aren’t concluded in the same volume as single-aisle jets. Meanwhile, over 12,000 Boeing 737s have been built with common narrowbody; fewer than 1,800 Boeing 777s were produced, more than any other twin-aisle aircraft. The special occasion on the widebody plan reaches 1,000 units from the Charleston plant, which is the newcomer to the Boeing family.

Typically this aircraft is a Boeing 787-10 currently flies Singapore Airlines-9VSCP is Singapore Airlines-20th example. This eventually was delivered in 2023-flying Charleston to Singapore-stopover in Nagoya, Japan-the 787-10 doesn’t ensures on enough range to cover the immense distance nonstop. 

Its aircraft is equipped with two Rolls-Royce Trent 1000s & flies with 337 seats in a two-class layout. This is used for short-haul flying within the longest flights, usually between six and eight hours, operating from Singapore to other Asian destinations or Australia.

Although only five twin-aisle aircraft types have ever met the milestone of 1,000 units. It’s the Boeing 747, 767, 777 and 787 with Airbus A330. In addition slightly over 650 Airbus A350s in service-airbus having over 1,300 examples. Meanwhile the 787 has received over 2,000 orders and given consolidated production at Charleston-means that the 2,000th Dreamliner will also come from here.

Headquarters for the Dreamlifter fleet

The full dreamlifter fleet is now operating out of Charleston

Typically constructing a 787 involves shipping components & large items from various parts of the world for final assembly. Boeing meanwhile has been converted four second-hand 747-400s into the 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter-known as the Dreamlifter. The carrier aircrafts are operational within contract by Atlas Air-previously flew parts to both 787 factories.

Typically, visiting Taranto, Italy, Wic, white, and Kansas are registered as N249BA, N718BA, N747BC, and N780BA. In addition, Chubu Centrair International Airport in Japan is all because of Dreamlifters ranging less than standard 747-flying to Asia over a fuel stop typically performed in Anchorage, Alaska. These aircraft do occasionally visit other cities, but these are the airports that they usually frequent.

The 787-10 Is exclusively built here

Everett’s production focused solely on the 787-8 and 787-9

This 787’s production includes on higher degree of outsourcing than previous Boeing aircraft. The parts are the manufactured over the globe-shipped for final assembly. The 787 Dreamlifter takes care of larger components. The South Carolina-ensures on home to a significant portion of the 787 fuselage assembly-flown via Dreamlifter for jets assembled in Everett.

Meanwhile talking about results-both factories produced the 787-8 and the 787-9; the largest 787 variant to be assemble in Charleston. This overall was likely as a contributing factor in consolidating production here. 

Consolidating in Everett would require a significant upheaval in the established supply chain to enable 787-10 production. This makes the 787-10 the first commercial Boeing aircraft variant produced exclusively outside of Washington.

The first Boeing 787-10 rolled off the assembly line in March 2017-maiden flight and Singapore Airlines. Nearly 300 orders have been booked for this same variant. The fantastic plane-phenomenal cost-per-seat metrics & enough capability on airlines needs. 

The site now boasts two active assembly lines

Allowing operations to regain their previous pace

Let’s briefly give some initials, such as a single line at the Charleston facility and one at Everett, Washington. In fact, the production peaked in 2019 when Boeing produced 14 Boeing 787s a month, seven at the Everett and seven at Charleston. The factory remained operational for quality inspections, but this, too, ended recently.

In fact one assembly line isn’t enough to meet its high demand for the 787. The year 2023; 783 production peaked at five every month. However in 2024; saw occasional reductions-company ended year still five per month.

The Airbus A350 is currently at six per month. The increased production rate of the 787 will help reduce per-unit costs through the scale of economics. In must have increased revenue flow from more deliveries-allowing Boeing to continue offering lowest price than current charges. 

The Vast Scope of Boeing South Carolina

A showcase of cutting-edge precision

Eventually site spans on an area 265 acres next to Charleston’s passengers terminal. Its final assembly building itself-that was originally built with 1.2 million sq ft over the interior space. The structure is over 1,000 ft space long for Write Brothers to perform on first flight almost nine time. 

Apart from this, Charleston started as a site to construct the mid & aft body sections of the fuselage, later in the 787’s development. Boeing elected to add a second final assembly line. The facility has added a delivery centre for visiting airline representatives. All the additions have made Boeing South Carolina capable of full start-to-finish production, with no need to send the planes out for additional work during the assembly process.