Boeing will deliver the first 747-8 freighter to launch customer Cargolux on 19 September, followed by delivery of the second aircraft to the cargo carrier two days later on 21 September.

Cargolux will fly its first 747-8F on the morning of 19 September and put it into revenue service after the delivery at Paine Field in Everett, Washington. The airline has 13 747-8Fs on order.

"It's so exciting to be able to deliver two of these amazing airplanes to Cargolux in one week," said Elizabeth Lund, vice president and general manager of the 747 programme. "Cargolux has been a great partner for many years, and we so appreciate its deep commitment to this program."

Cargolux's president and CEO Frank Reimen said: "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, which is ultimately a testimony of our good and long-standing partnership with Boeing."

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news