Qatar's displeasure over B787 delays hinted as being behind Cargolux refusing first B787 Freighter

Cargolux rejected two B747-8 freighters due to arrive at its home base this week as it removed its staff from Boeing’s factory in Seattle and said in a statement that it had taken the extraordinary decision due to what it described as “unresolved contractual issues”.

Cargolux is the launch customer of the new aircraft and has 13 on order. Four were scheduled to be delivered this year – two years later than the original planned delivery date.

There has been a succession of delays to the programme and in a statement Cargolux said: ”The financing of the aircraft, secured through JP Morgan, had to be put on hold, pending resolution of the contractual issues between Boeing and Cargolux in respect of the aircraft.”

But premium online service Air Transport Intelligence has reported that refusal to accept delivery of the first Boeing 747-8F is linked to an ongoing dispute between Qatar Airways, a 35% shareholder of the cargo carrier, and Boeing over compensation for delays to Qatar's 787s.

ATI quoted unnamed sources as saying Cargolux and Boeing had previously agreed a framework for compensation but after Qatar acquired its stake in Cargolux on 9 September, a new dynamic entered the picture - compensation for delays to the 787.

According to multiple sources at ISTAT conference in Barcelona this week, Qatar's chief executive Akbar Al-Baker views the compensation for Cargolux as setting a benchmark for the sum due for the delays to Qatar's 787s.

Qatar Airways was unable to comment on the situation.

Boeing has also given no indication why Cargolux has rejected delivery of the freighters, only that it has been postponed.