August 20, 2010 - Boeing announced that it is expanding its St. Louis-area operations with the planned opening of a new manufacturing facility at MidAmerica Airport in Mascoutah. 

The facility, tentatively scheduled to open in late 2010 or early 2011, will use leased space in an existing building to house assembly and subassembly work. It is expected to initially bring approximately 75 new manufacturing jobs to Illinois. 

Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg addressed U.S., state and local officials, Boeing employees, and the media at a ceremony in Mascoutah. 

As of January 2010, one air cargo company uses the airport to import flowers from Colombia, totaling one flight each week, although when it was originally constructed, FedEx seriously considered using it as a central hub for the Midwest, but due to delays in its construction and governmental red tape, they ultimately decided on Memphis instead. Allegiant Airlines also offered flights to both McCarran Airport in Las Vegas and Orlando Sanford International Airport until 2009. MidAmerica's construction has included creation of the 10,000-foot (3,000 m) 14L/32R (east) runway, adding 1,000 feet (300 m) to the existing west runway, adding passenger and cargo terminals on the east side of the facility and a 7,000-foot (2,100 m) taxiway connecting the two runways. A new air traffic control tower staffed by Air Force personnel was also constructed midway between the two runways.

Boeing and St. Clair County are entering into a long-term lease for the existing 50,000-square-foot facility, which is the first Boeing manufacturing center in Illinois. ?We are ecstatic that Boeing has chosen MidAmerica Airport for this expansion. Their presence here brings a much-needed boost to the entire local economy,? said Kern.