Boeing opens first St. Louis commercial airplanes facility

On October 13th Boeing has formally opened a new composite center on its St. Louis campus that will house the company’s largest commercial aviation work statement ever placed at the site. The center is a visible representation of the company’s efforts to diversify and grow its St. Louis-area operations. The 424,000-ft² facility will initially build composite parts for the company’s newest commercial jetliner, the 777X. Boeing has committed more than US$300m in company funds to construct and outfit the center. Production of 777X wing edge and empennage parts will begin at the new composite center in early 2017. The first 777X delivery is expected in 2020. As a result of this 777X work in St. Louis, a total of approximately 700 jobs are expected to be generated in production, engineering, and multiple support areas by the early 2020s timeframe.