Boeing apparently 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.