Boeing Targets 14 Dreamliners Per Month at North Charleston Facility

Boeing plans to increase production at its North Charleston, South Carolina facility, aiming to build up to 14 787 Dreamliners per month in the coming years. The company announced the target during the release of its third-quarter 2025 results.

The airframer is investing US$1 billion to expand the North Charleston plant, which currently employs approximately 7,800 staff. Boeing expects to reach eight Dreamliners per month by year-end from seven aircraft today as an interim step toward the longer-term target.

The decision to ramp up production follows a period of reduced output during the pandemic and supply chain disruptions. Achieving 14 aircraft monthly would return the 787 program to pre-pandemic production rates, subject to market demand and manufacturing improvements.

Boeing is also working to complete the last 10 Dreamliners assembled prior to 2023 at the facility. These jets are among the final units from the company’s so-called ‘shadow factory,’ which included undelivered aircraft requiring rectification.

CEO Kelly Ortberg stated that the increased rate depends on sustained demand and continued progress in quality assurance. The company will monitor market conditions and supplier performance as it proceeds with the expansion and delivery of outstanding inventory.

Boeing once had two plants producing the Dreamliner, in addition to North Charleston and Everett, Washington, but in 2020 decided to concentrate all production in South Carolina due to cost and labor issues.

However, the plant in the southern US experienced recurring quality problems that led the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to pause production for some time.

As of September 2025, the planemaker had 1,048 orders out of 787 pending delivery.

About the Author

Ricardo Meier

Creator of the website that started in 1996 as a magazine. He also writes on Brazilian websites AUTOO, MOTOO and MetrôCPTM.

Articles by the author »