Tag: Dreamliner production

Boeing Announces ‘Landmark’ 787 Deal with Thai Airways

Aviation International News  reports that “Boeing on Tuesday revealed a pair of orders from Asian carriers for 49 of its 787 Dreamliner widebodies in the biggest deal of the Singapore Airshow’s first day.” Thai Airways is expected to purchase “up to 45 aircraft, while Royal Brunei Airlines has committed to adding four of the intercontinental model to its fleet.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)

Boeing Increases 787 Dreamliner Production

Reuters (5/30) reports that The Boeing Company has increased production of its 787 Dreamliner up to four planes per month from three as it prepares to ramp up to five per month by the end of 2023, as well as add a second production line at the company’s South Carolina facilities to help complete work this year on inventory 787s that are being modified to meet the standards of the Federal Aviation Administration.
Full Story (Reuters)

FAA Issues Airworthiness Directive for 222 of Boeing 787 Planes

Reuters reports that on Wednesday, the FAA “issued an airworthiness directive for certain Boeing Co 787 airplanes, asking for inspection of the jets following reports of torn decompression panels in the bilge area.” The FAA “estimates that the directive affects 222 787 airplanes that are part of the U.S. registry.”
Full Story (Reuters)

Boeing to Formally Select Consolidated Production Site for 787 Dreamliner Thursday

The Seattle Times reports that The Boeing Company leadership will meet virtually Thursday morning “to formally make a decision on consolidating 787 Dreamliner production in a single location, according to several people with knowledge of the plans.” Boeing’s “choice of North Charleston, S.C., is all but sealed, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed sources, though the company declined to confirm that prior to the meeting.” Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun “made clear in July, when he announced plans to study the consolidation, that [the consolidation] would be done for the long term, not just until 787 demand rebounds to the expected level of 10-12 per month.” Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) said, “Boeing would be turning its back on the finest workers and the finest place in the world to build airplanes.” Inslee warned that the consolidation plan “could lead the state to take ‘a hard look at [Boeing’s] favorable tax treatment.’”
Full Story (Seattle Times)

Sources Say Boeing Will Announce Shift of 787 Production to South Carolina Soon

Reuters reports that The Boeing Company “is nearing a decision to shift more 787 Dreamliner production to South Carolina, industry sources said, a cost-cutting strategy accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic that would deplete its iconic factory north of Seattle.” Unless there is a “last-minute U-turn, Boeing is ‘all but certain’ to move the rest of 787 production away from its traditional base to South Carolina, two people briefed on its thinking said.” The move “could be announced by late October when Boeing reports earnings, they said. Pressure for a decision is imminent as suppliers need to know what parts to make for jets in 2022.”
Full Story (Reuters)