Boeing Co is seeing increased demand for its 747 jumbo jet and building a larger version remains a possibility, Alan Mulally, chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said on Sunday.
"We're actually feeling upward pressure to build more 747s," he said, adding that some carriers were interested in having Boeing build a stretched version of the 747 which would seat more passengers and offer greater range.
"There are some airlines that want us to stretch it (adding more seats) and increase the gross weight and the range."
Mulally, speaking to reporters on the eve of the Farnborough air show near London, said Boeing continued to see only limited interest in the market for a plane as large as rival Airbus's 555-seat A380, due for delivery in 2006.
However he said that increasing demand in the freight market was part of the reason some carriers have expressed an interest in a slightly larger 747.
"We're seeing the most interest in Asia," Mulally said.
Boeing's next all-new plane is the 7E7 Dreamliner due in 2008. The U.S. planemaker has received no firm orders for the plane, though it has reached tentative deals for 62 of the mid-sized commercial jets.
"It's as good as a firm contract to us," Mulally said of the likelihood that such tentative deals will translate into firm orders.
