Boeing to Build Longer-Range Versions of 777

Boeing Co. and General Electric Co. said Tuesday that they will begin production on two longer-range versions of the Boeing 777, including the world’s longest-range airplane, capable of flying more than 10,000 miles without refueling.

The new twin-engined jets--planned extensions of the popular wide-body 777 family--are aimed at the Asian market and designed to compete with a new jet from Europe’s Airbus Industrie on long transpacific routes. The new model 777-200 will be able to fly distances as far as 10,100 miles--say, from New York to Malaysia--trumping the 9,765-mile top range of the Airbus A340-500.

GE will be the sole provider of engines for the new 777s, with a higher-thrust version of its GE90 engine.

On the New York Stock Exchange, Boeing shares closed off 6 cents at $36.94, and GE shares rose $2.94 to close at $132.38.