Boeing starts work on second Dreamliner assembly site

US aerospace giant Boeing broke ground Friday for the second assembly plant for its new 787 Dreamliner aircraft scheduled for its first test flight by the end of the year.

The facility at North Charleston, South Carolina also will have the capability to support the testing and delivery of airplanes, officials said.

Jim Albaugh, president and chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said Friday's launch "marks the beginning of an expansion plan that will strengthen the 787 program."

"Locating the second line in North Charleston will allow Boeing to successfully compete in the aerospace market and grow for the long-term benefit of many stakeholders," he said.

Boeing said last week that its 787 Dreamliner aircraft remains on track for its first test flight by the end of the year.

It had announced on June 23 a fifth delay in the 787 Dreamliner program to fix a structural problem.

Boeing launched the Dreamliner program in April 2004 and initially had planned to deliver the first airplane to Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways in the first half of 2008.

It claims the 787 Dreamliner will be more efficient, quieter and have lower emissions than other airplanes.

Fifty-five customers around the world have ordered 840 787s since the program was launched in April 2004, making the Dreamliner the fastest-selling new commercial jetliner in history, Boeing says.