After World War II was over, Boeing re-entered the commercial market with a new long-range airliner, the Stratocruiser (Model 377), based on the B-29 Stratofortress bomber.

The Stratocruiser set a new standard for luxurious air travel with its tastefully decorated extra-wide passenger cabin and gold-appointed dressing rooms. A circular staircase led to a lower-deck beverage lounge, and Stratocruiser flight attendants prepared hot meals for 50 to 100 people in a state-of-the-art galley. (The 747 staircase was influenced by this design.) As a sleeper, the Stratocruiser was equipped with 28 upper-and-lower bunk units. The Stratocruiser could accommodate 55 to 100 passengers and crew, had a top speed of 375 mph, and a range of 4,600 miles.