Looks pretty but is it useful? An early build 748F, photo courtesy Boeing

US air freighter specialist, Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, has cancelled its first three Boeing 747-8F freighters, less than a week after launch customer Cargolux refused to take delivery of the first two 748Fs to come off the assembly line at Everett.

In its statement filing Atlas makes it clear that it intends to take delivery of the remaining nine out of 12 Boeing 748Fs it has on order, with the first three of them being placed in service with client airlines before the end of this year.

However it also makes it clear Boeing has lost the other three orders. It remains unknown whether Cargolux intends to reduce its order by two 748Fs, reach an agreement over compensation, or replace them with later build jets.