Boeing will expand its facilities in Charleston County to support increased production targets for its long-range 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The company plans to increase production to 10 Dreamliners per month by 2026, the company said.
The $1 billion investment will be accompanied by the creation of 500 new jobs over five years.
The aircraft maker, which has struggled with production quality issues and just suffered a strike lasting more than 50 days that paralyzed 2 major factories, announced in mid-October its intention to reduce its global workforce by 10% in the coming months. By the end of 2023, the company employs nearly 171,000 people.
The group sent out the first layoff notices under the plan in November. In South Carolina (where Boeing had 7,900 employees at the end of 2023), 287 people will lose their jobs starting Jan. 17.
During the strike, production of the 737 MAX, Boeing's best-selling aircraft, was frozen, as well as the 777 and 767 jumbo jets and several military programs. Only 787 Dreamliner production continued normally, with the South Carolina plant unaffected by the strike.
On December 10, the aircraft manufacturer announced that it had resumed 737 production at its Renton plant in the Seattle area. Production of the 777, 777X and 767 was to follow in Everett, in the same region.
At the end of November, the company's order book included 6,268 aircraft. | BGNES
