Boeing announces that production of 787 will move to South Carolina in 2021.

Boeing announced Thursday its plans to finish production of the 787 Dreamliner in Washington state and consolidate its assembly in South Carolina starting in mid 2021.

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The decision to move assembly of the Everett jetliner to its North Charleston facility is part of the company’s new strategy to manage the slowdown in demand for aircraft caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the company said in a news release.

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“The tremendous success of the Boeing 787 today is thanks to our great partners at Everett,” said Stan Deal, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “They helped deliver an aircraft that changed the way airlines and passengers want to fly. As our customers go through this unprecedented global pandemic, and to ensure the long-term success of the 787 program, we are consolidating 787 production in South Carolina.

The North Charleston facility opened in 2010 as a second assembly line for the wide-body aircraft. It is now ready to build the largest model of the Dreamliner, the 787-10. Production of the smaller 787 models will continue at Everett, where production began in 2007, until the transition takes place, the company said.