Boeing looks set to announce more customers for its 747-8F as it closes the case for stretching the Intercontinental version.According to US sources, Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, parent of Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo, will order up to 12 747-8Fs. The carriers currently operate a combined fleet of 37 747s including 20 Classics. Last week, Atlas President and CEO William Flynn said that airline would announce a freighter order shortly (ATWOnline, Aug. 15). This website also understands that another freight operator is close to an order for both dash 8Fs and 777Fs.

Boeing apparently also has decided to lengthen the 747-8 Intercontinental to the same length as the 747-8F to meet demands for greater capacity. Currently, the passenger variant has a 3.6-m. stretch and the freighter is stretched by 5.6 m. Lengthening the passenger version to match the freighter adds 20 seats, plus an additional 12 when combined with overhead galley cart storage, lifting passenger capacity to 496 in a standard Boeing three-class configuration.

It is expected that the stretch will be confirmed at a 747-8 airline conference to be held in Hong Kong the first week of September. Boeing has been working with 25 carriers interested in the passenger version to determine range/payload definition. Range of the larger 747-8 will remain the original 8,000 nm. after wind tunnel gains earlier this year lifted the baseline aircraft to 8,300 nm. The manufacturer has sold 143 747-400s and 747-8s since early 2000 and 74 in the past 18 months.

Separately, Boeing announced the rollout of the first 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter last week in Taipei. It is the first of three aircraft that will transport major assemblies for the 787. It will undergo initial flight testing this month in Taipei before finishing in Seattle.

Also, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Sales Director-Asia Pacific John Bruns was promoted to VP-China operations.