787 Dreamliner
Around 1,000 workers, mainly comprising mechanics and electricians, assemble Dreamliners at Everett factory. Credit: Kiefer from Frankfurt, Germany

Boeing intends to continue work on 787 Dreamliners at its facility in Everett, Washington, even after the factory closes production next year and shifts final assembly to the site in South Carolina, US.

Citing an internal company mail, 787 production blogger Uresh Sheth said that the aircraft manufacturer plans to use the Everett facility to inspect and repair defects in the airframes of Dreamliners, as a result of the shift in production to South Carolina.

In the blog post, Sheth wrote that this move will involve aircraft located at the Everett facility but not delivered yet, and the transition is expected to happen in March 2021.

Although a Boeing spokesperson confirmed the decision, the firm declined to say how long the inspections would take or how many workers would stay back to support the 787 programme, reported Bloombergquint.com.

Around 1,000 workers, mainly comprising mechanics and electricians, assemble Dreamliners at Everett factory.

In an emailed statement to Bloomberg, the firm stated: “As we’ve shared previously, we’re lowering our 787 production rate from six airplanes per month to five airplanes per month in 2021.”

“As we make this transition, our 787 teammates in Everett will complete inspections and any rework as needed.”

Deliveries of Dreamliners slowed down as the planemaker is engaged in fixing gaps in the fuselage barrels as this defect could age the 787 aircraft.

Although the issue does not immediately pose any safety threat, Boeing and US regulators are working on what action to be taken for those airplanes that are currently operational.

In November, Boeing did not deliver its wide-body jets as it deals with a struggling market in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier this month, Boeing chief financial officer Greg Smith had indicated that deliveries would be slow given the lengthy inspections.

He also added then that the firm anticipates ‘unwinding the inventory now of those undelivered aircraft through 2021’.