Boeing says bye to more -8F orders
02 / 11 / 2011
IN a move sure to knock Boeing further, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) will covert five of its 15 orders for the 747-8F to orders for the smaller 777.
The aircraft will be operated by Emirates, the world’s largest 777 operator.
“This conversion allows the airline to maximise synergies with its current fleet,” Boeing said.
Including the change, DAE now has 20 Boeing unfilled orders for 10 747-8Fs and 10 777s.
After more than two years Cargolux took receipt of its first two freighters almost a month after famously rejecting the September 2011 delivery over quarrels with engine manufacturer GE.
Cathay Pacific, which has just collected its first -8F, reconsidered an order for 10 of the aircraft, but Boeing wooed it back with concession on a recent order for eight 777 freighters.
Atlas Air has exercised its right to terminate delivery of three early 747-8s because of lengthy delays and performance considerations. But Atlas is still taking nine aircraft by 2012. The early models are coming in heavier and have more inefficient fuel burn.
Korean Air Lines has shunted back its August delivery schedule to the second quarter of 2012.
