Cargolux demands compensation for Boeing delivery delays

CARGOLUX, the launch customer for the new Boeing 747-8 Freighter, is believed to be seeking a price reduction after the latest takeoff was delayed by technical problems, including detection of a low-frequency vibration.

The Luxembourg cargo airline said discussions are under way with Boeing, "pursuant to our purchase contract," reported London's International Freighting Weekly. But Cargolux, the launch customer, refused to say whether talks focussed on price to compensate for delivery delays. The latest delay pushes the delivery date from late 2010 to mid-2011.

Boeing had earlier announced that the first delivery would be delayed by several months, and that it would add a fifth aircraft to the flight test fleet to correct problems.

Boeing originally planned to deliver the first 747-8 Freighter to Cargolux in late 2009, but the programme was first delayed in October 2008 which caused Boeing to take a US$1 billion charge, the report said.

An unidentified Cargolux official added that the company was "working on additional aircraft to cover the delay [of the 747-8] and our preference is the 747-400. "Our target is to have such capacity available in early 2011," he said, confirming that Cargolux remains committed to adding thirteen B747-8 freighters to its fleet. 
(Source:www.schednet.com)