Money Matters, Simplified.
Boeing suspends delivery of 747-8 freighter to Cargolux
by Neka Sehgal - September 19, 2011 - comments
Boeing’s new 747-8 freighter, the biggest it has ever built, has passed all its safety tests and received U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification last month to enter into commercial
Boeing Co. canceled a three-day party to celebrate the inaugural delivery of its first two 747-8 super jets after its Luxembourg-based launch customer, Cargolux Airlines International, rejected the planes citing "unresolved contractual issues.
Boeing was scheduled to deliver the first freighter to the cargo carrier on Sept.19, followed by the delivery of the second aircraft two days later on Sept. 21.
Randy Tinseth, vice president of marketing at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, told a conference in Barcelona, "That party will have to wait. While this is disappointing to all of us here at Boeing, we're working with Cargolux to resolve the issues. They've been an incredible partner going back a long way.
"The 747-8 Freighter is something to celebrate — and we plan on doing just that very soon."
Cargolux was originally expected to take delivery in the third-quarter of 2009, but a series of delays due to redesigning of wings, a longer fuselage and resultant aerodynamic issues delayed it by roughly two years.
747-8 freighter certified for commercial service
Boeing’s new 747-8 freighter, the biggest it has ever built, has passed all its safety tests and received U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification last month to enter into commercial service.
Cargolux was originally expected to take delivery in the third-quarter of 2009, but a series of delays due to redesigning of wings, a longer fuselage and resultant aerodynamic issues delayed it by roughly two years.
The cargo carrier may have rejected the delivery over issues of compensation or adjustments due to the repeated delays of the 747-8 freighters ordered.
While the two parties haven't revealed the exact nature of the dispute, reports suggest that fuel efficiency and performance problems may also be the culprit.
According to Max Kingsley-Jones with Flight Global, “The Cargolux row is understood to centre on the 747-8F’s non-compliance with contractual guarantees, suggesting that it is connected in some way to the performance issues.”
Alternative freighter aircraft
Meanwhile, Cargolux has put on hold the financing, arranged by J.P. Morgan with a guarantee from the U.S. Export-Import Bank, for the two planes.
"In the event that the issues cannot be resolved in a timely manner, Cargolux will source alternative capacity to fully meet customer demand and expectations ahead of the traditional high season," company said in a statement.