Boeing Gets $1-Billion Order for Freighters

Boeing Co., the biggest plane maker, won an order from International Lease Finance Corp. for five 747-400 freighter airplanes valued at $1 billion.

The Los Angeles-based leasing company, a unit of American International Group Inc., will get the first plane in October 2002. It’s buying the newest and longest-range version of the 747-400, which can fly an additional 530 nautical miles or carry an extra 22,000 pounds of cargo.

In March, Boeing said it was shelving plans for an even bigger version of the 747, known as the 747X, in favor of developing a faster plane called the “sonic cruiser” that will fly at almost the speed of sound.

The order was disclosed almost two weeks ago as coming from an unidentified customer, Boeing spokesman Bob Saling said. In late 1999, the company began updating its order tally weekly on its Web site and including those from customers who didn’t wish to be identified yet.

Shares of Boeing, based in Seattle, rose 19 cents to close at $61.80 on the New York Stock Exchange.