747-8F first delivery today

Cargolux, Boeing, and GE have resolved their differences, and the first delivery of a 747-8 Freight will take place today (12 October), with the second, also to Cargolux, on the 13th.

Here is the text of Cargolux’s announcement on the matter:

Cargolux successfully resolves contractual issues after rejection of first two Boeing 747-8 aircraft

Luxembourg, 12 October 2011. Cargolux announced today that the delivery of the first two Boeing 747-8 Freighters initially scheduled for 19 and 21 September is proceeding on 12 and 13 October 2011 following the resolution of contractual issues between Boeing, GE and Cargolux related to the performance of the aircraft and the engines.

In its meeting on 7 October, the Cargolux Board of Directors appreciated that the negotiation team (Akbar al Baker (Director), Frank Reimen (President and Chief Executive Officer)) and David Arendt (Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer) and Company management took the appropriate actions to ensure that the 747-8 entry into service issues be resolved successfully.

Frank Reimen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cargolux, said: ‘I am pleased that we have reached agreement on the contractual issues. The 747-8 Freighter will be a driver of profitable growth for Cargolux’.

Launch customer Cargolux has 13 Boeing 747-8 Freighter airplanes on firm order.

As an enhanced variant of the 747-400 cargo aircraft, the new-generation 747-8 Freighter offers a variety of benefits over its predecessor, including additional payload, less fuel burn and carbon emissions and a considerably lower noise footprint.