“Unresolved contractual issues” have forced Boeing to delay or possibly cancel delivery of the first two 747-8 Freighters to Cargolux, originally scheduled for today and Wednesday. The rejection of the deliveries by the Luxembourg-based cargo carrier comes as an embarrassment for Boeing, which had planned to hold special ceremonies this week in Everett, Wash., to mark the milestone following some two years of delays caused by design changes and certain flight test “discoveries.” Of course, the delays have already forced Boeing to pay untold millions of dollars in compensation for late deliveries.
Asked for detailed comment on the reasons for the change in plans, a Boeing spokesman referred AIN to Cargolux. The airline, too, simply cited unresolved contractual “issues” in a statement issued on Saturday. However, it also noted that if the sides cannot reach a satisfactory settlement, the airline “will source alternative capacity to fully meet customer demand and expectations ahead of the traditional high season.”
