HKIA to build third runway despite turmoil
The Hong Kong government is determined to press ahead with expansion of the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), including a third terminal and third runway, in the next five years, despite a continuous decline in air traffic since the start of the financial meltdown, the South China Morning Post reported.
The third terminal and runway were among projects to be finalised in the next five to six years.
Cargo volumes, and passenger numbers, at the airport have been declining since August.
Cargo fell 7.5 percent year-on-year in September and 9.2 percent last month, while passenger numbers shrank 4.7 percent and 1.4 percent.
International cargo terminal operator Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals also announced this month that it handled only 222,166 tonnes of cargo in October, a year-on-year drop of 9.8 per cent.
The Airport Authority blamed the global financial crisis for the reduction in visitors, imports, exports and transhipments.
But according to sources, the temporary decline would not stop the government from expanding the airport to maintain its regional advantage.
Apart from the much-discussed third runway, key plans under study include building a third terminal and further developing the middle field area of the airport.
The building of new cargo handling and airline catering facilities was also being considered.
The existing master plan, to 2020, proposes increasing the number of aircraft gates by building an elongated "X" shaped midfield concourse that would provide 49 frontal-parking stands and 10 remote or unconnected stands.
Dongguan's Humen Port Starts Operation
Two berths in Shatian Port Area, the first deep water container wharf in Dongguan's Humen Port, began operations this month and more berth constructions are planned, NewsTrak Daily reported.
The second phase development of the port, including two berths, started construction this month. It is scheduled to complete in 2010, giving Humen Port an annual throughput capacity of two million TEU.
The two berths that have started operation have handling a capacity of 300,000 TEU and 600,000 tonnes of general cargo each year.
The coastal line of the wharf will stretch to 678 meters with a total investment of US$177.8 million.
China Customs Advance Manifest
As from 1st of January 2009, China Customs will implement a new manifest regulation that requires submission of complete and correct cargo manifest electronically to China Customs 24 hours prior to cargo loading.
The regulation is applicable to all import, export and transshipped cargo via any of China Mainland ports. Hong Kong is not included.
For more details of the China Customs regulation (only available in Chinese), please refer to China Customs website via this link. www.customs.gov.cn
FedEx to increase ground rates by 5.9%
Courier company FedEx Corporation said that it planned to increase rates on its ground and home delivery services by an average of 5.9 percent in 2009, Reuters reported.
The Memphis, Tennessee-based company said in September it would raise rates on its express service by an average 6.9 percent next year.
FedEx said the increases would be partially offset by adjustments to the formula it uses to set its fuel surcharge, a move the company said would reduce the surcharge by 2 percentage points.
Taiwan strait direct flights to be realized soon; Taiwanese carriers ready to fly
Starting from mid Dec, 2008 the dream of a direct routing across the Taiwan Strait is closer to reality following the signing of an agreement between Beijing's Assn. for Relations Across the Tawian Strait and Taipei's Strait Exchange Foundation.
The deal, which will take effect in 40 days, will allow carriers to bypass Hong Kong airspace and reduce flight time, operating costs, fuel burn and emissions.
Taiwanese carriers will have access to 16 cities in mainland China in addition to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen and Nanjing. They are Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Dalian, Guilin, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Fuzhou, Qingdao, Changsha, Haikou, Kunming, Xi'an, Shenyang, Tianjin and Zhengzhou. The number of permitted weekly roundtrip flights will rise from the current 36 to 108.
Aviation fuel prices slashed further
Oil companies slashed the price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) by a substantial 12 percent this week, the third cut this month, bringing down prices by no less than 16 percent in just a fortnight, the Times of India reported.
The reduction in prices marks a whopping 44.5 percent fall from the unprecedented August highs. As of now, prices are lowest for this year - they stand at the levels of September 2007.
The sharp surge in jet fuel prices began in April when crude began its upward spiral. ATF rates shot upwards constantly till August after which it fell just as fast.
ATF rates prices were reviewed mid-month for the first time on Saturday after oil minister Murli Deora and aviation minister Praful Patel decided last month to review prices every fortnight, to factor in the consistent fall in global crude prices.