The Associated Press reports that Boeing will be lengthening the new version of its 747 widebody to compete with the Airbus 380 and squeeze in 17 seats.
The new 747-8 Intercontinental will seat 467 people and will be 250 feet, 8 inches long. The current 747-400 seats 416 people.
The 747 still is a far cry from the capacity of the Airbus 380, but the 747 design is a proven workhorse, and passenger versions could be delivered by 2010. Freighter versions of the aircraft will be delivered to airlines in 2009. The combination of a proven design with increased capacity and improved features could ensure Boeing’s ability to maintain a market share in large-size aircraft if the 380 does not succeed in bringing down Airbus. Even if it does, Boeing would be in a position to receive orders for large-scale aircraft to fill in the gap in fleets depending on Airbus’s superjumbo jet.