Boeing to Make Bigger 787 Jet

Boeing Co. has decided to proceed with an expanded version of its hot-selling 787 Dreamliner, the executive who heads the program said Monday.

The twin-engine jet, due to enter service with airlines in 2008, helped spark a rebound in Boeing’s commercial airliner business last year.

Boeing had been reluctant to commit to making a larger 787, which would seat about 300 passengers in three classes, because of concern it would cut into sales of its 777-200 ER. But Mike Bair, general director of the 787 program, said Boeing decided to go ahead with the new model, which would begin flying in late 2012, because Emirates airlines, long an advocate of the larger version, was joined by others.

“As time has marched on and we talked to other carriers it’s become pretty obvious to us that the interest is more widespread than just Emirates, and that’s really what has caused us to look at this opportunity more seriously,” he said.

Boeing is talking to “around a dozen” airlines about the plane, which would have the same 8,600-mile to 8,800-mile range as a previously planned 250-seat version, he said.

Dubai-based Emirates, which placed a $9.7-billion 777 order late last year, has said it is weighing an order of some 50 mid-size wide-body planes from either Boeing or rival Airbus, a joint venture of France’s EADS and Britain’s BAE Systems.

Shares of Boeing declined 34 cents Monday to $78.39.