Cargolux have postponed taking delivery of their first 747-8 Freighter on Monday, due to contractual issues. I have no idea what issues they could be, and why they were found just days before first delivery. Qatar Airways bought 355 stake in the airline just last week, and since no one shareholder has a controlling stake, my guess is that this may be the issue, again speculation. Its so sad, but if the delivery is cancelled, I'm sure there's customers who'd buy 'white-tails'. Thi is too bad for Boeing, I hope Cargolux can take their 747's.

I'm sure if Cargolux cancels the deal outright, there will be plenty of cargo airlines that would buy some 'white tails'. Besides, Nippon Air Cargo is still very excited to get their planes, as wel las Cathay Pacific Cargo and Korean Cargo.

Don't forget that most of the world is still trying to get over that "recession" we almost had. That could account for the cancellations of the orders of the aircraft.

I think you guys are spot on when it comes to some economical effects, but I doubt that this leads to airlines ordering a plane and then, two days before it will be delivered, rejecting the manufacturer.
That's not the type of business anyone needs and I'm pretty curious about the special Cargolux explanation.

One could image various influences there, from missed performance data to the change in direction of the Cargolux management over even 'out of money' there, but in a business where you sell multi 100 million Dollar planes, both sides may usually avoid such overhasty actions, especially when it comes to the PR event of the first delivery.

So whatever drove Cargolux, they did not make friends at Boeing with this.
I think from the logistics, the Boeing guys can easily turn the current Cargolox plane into any other one, maybe switching some options, but the main impact happened on the PR side and leaves the observers somehow stunned with the current lack of information on why a deal was missed that close to 100%.

So lets see how this gets explained, mainly by Cargolux since Boeing did as promised so far, building the plane and organizing the delivery.

The local (from the Cargolux viewpoint) press already writes that they still intend to buy the planes. So a maybe late but fulfilled deal.
Lets see how the PR guys explain that, while the background will stay dark, as always.
The Qatar fellows tend to use the media to 'inform' about shortcomings, maybe to get a better price later. Speculation of course since one won't get any official numbers on the actual prices.

I think that the Cargolux case is a one time special and shouldn't trigger any other airlines to step back.
Just assuming though.