Boeing Considers Stretched 747 Plane

Boeing Co. plans to decide by the middle of this year about offering a stretched version of the 747 plane that would fly commercially by 2009.

Boeing also will probably replace its single-aisle 737 model, the bestselling airliner in the world, within the next decade with a newly named aircraft using technology from the 787 plane the company is developing, said Randy Baseler, Boeing’s head of airliner marketing.

Airbus has been the world’s largest plane maker for the last two years. Baseler said Boeing expected sales of twin-aisle airliners, which include the 747, 787 and 777, to help the company reclaim the top spot within two to three years.

Shares of Chicago-based Boeing rose 81 cents to $55.30 on the New York Stock Exchange.