Boeing set to deliver first 747-8F September 19 to Cargolux

Boeing confirmed Friday it will deliver the first 747-8 freighter to launch customer Cargolux Sept. 19 at Paine Field in Everett. Production and development issues several times delayed the 747-8F; Cargolux was originally scheduled to get its first aircraft in the third quarter of 2009.

The 747-8F gained US FAA and EASA certification last month. Cargolux has 13 747-8Fs on firm order. The cargo carrier will put the aircraft into revenue service immediately from its Luxembourg base. It will take delivery of the second General Electric GEnx-2B67 powered 747-8F Sept. 21 and a third aircraft is scheduled to join its fleet in October.

Cargolux president and CEO Frank Reimen said, "In a sense, history is repeating itself. We were pioneering the cargo industry when we put the first 747-400 freighter into revenue service in 1993. This is what we do once again with the 747-8 freighter."

Cargolux, Europe's largest all-cargo airline, became the 747-8F launch customer when it signed a contract for 10 in November 2005. It placed a follow-on order for three additional aircraft in March 2007 and holds two options and 10 purchase rights.

(Cathy Buyck - Air Transport World)