Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings has cancelled orders for three early-production Boeing 747-8 freighters that were part of a 12-jet order announced in 2006.

Atlas Air has cancelled the order due to delivery delays and performance considerations, the company said.

Atlas Air now expects to receive three 747-8Fs in 2011, four in 2012 and two in 2013.

The 747-8 is already two years late entering service due to Boeing diverting some engineers to its other delayed jet, the 787 Dreamliner.