The Charleston area could be in the pilot's seat for Boeing Co.'s second production line of its new 787 jetliner, a prospect that could mean hundreds or thousands of jobs and the spawning of a minor aerospace industry hub.

"Right now, I think Charleston would be the favorite location," said Scott Hamilton, a Leeham Co. aviation consultant based in Washington state.

Boeing has said it is considering a second full-scale assembly line for its long-delayed Dreamliner passenger plane but hasn't made any decisions about locations.

Hamilton ranked Charleston above Everett, Wash., where Boeing builds commercial jets, because two factories that already supply key parts for the 787 are located at the Charleston International Airport.

He also noted that the airport has ample land for an assembly plant and that the region offers lower business costs than the Northwest.

San Antonio is in the running too, Hamilton said. Long Beach, Calif., is the wild card.