These certificates may be used for electronic communications with the new import/export Integrated Cargo System (ICS) associated with Customs Cargo Management Re-engineering (CMR) project.

Customs and Telstra are about to enter into negotiations over the details of how and when users will be able to apply for Telstra certificates for use with Customs systems.

This will include details pertaining to the pricing structure of Telstra certificates to be used for customs purposes.

With a view to expanding its business territory, Chinatrans has built up operation sites in east, north and south China, as well as Hong Kong, laying a firm groundwork for home and overseas logistics services.

In the Pearl Delta region, Chinatrans offers professional services with Shenzhen as logistics hub.

The airline will also operate three flights a week on the route from Ho Chi Minh City to Melbourne.

The new operation means that Vietnam Airlines will be operating a daily flight between the two countries, subject to governments approval.

The airline plans to use a new B777-200 ERs on the Sydney route.

The A319 is the first of 18 A320 family aircraft to be integrated into the Aeroflot fleet as part of a deal signed in Toulouse in November 2002.

Deliveries of these aircraft to Aeroflot, replacing some of the 27 Western-built aircraft, currently in service with the airline, will be completed by the end of 2004.

Firm orders for the A320 family now exceed 3,000.

Qantas chief executive, Geoff Dixon, said the talks would take place over the next few weeks and would canvass all options.

“We still believe an alliance between Qantas and Air New Zealand is in the best interests of aviation in this region and would deliver significant benefits,” Mr Dixon said.

He said the New Zealand Commerce Commission, like the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, had taken a very narrow view of competition and consumer interests and either ignored or underestimated the significant structural challenges facing the aviation industry.

“The decisions of the NZCC and the ACCC are at odds with what is occurring around the world,” Mr Dixon said.

“In Europe, Air France and KLM have just signed a merger agreement that will see them operate a total of 540 aircraft and employ 106,000 people. Other European airlines are holding discussions, while British Airways has indicated it may revive its plans for greater co-operation with American Airlines.

“More broadly, the European Union and the United States have commenced talks about dropping barriers between their markets to form a Transatlantic Common Aviation Area. Once this occurs, airlines will be encouraged to invest in each other across national boundaries.

“In the United States, Delta, Northwest and Continental have been given approval to form a three-way alliance while US Airways and United Airlines have recently expanded their codeshare alliance to cover 1,600 flight segments.

“There are simply too many airlines in the world today and it is inevitable that there will be further pressures toward consolidation and some very large and powerful groups could emerge.”

Edward Markey, a senior Homeland Security official, said: “Since September 11, Logan Airport has been a national leader in developing and implementing strategies to thwart terrorism.

“Boston residents should be confident that everything that can be done is being done to make certain that no successful terrorist attack is carried out at Logan.”

“From 100 per cent bag screening to elite anti-terrorism training, the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) is leading the way on transportation security,” said Massport CEO Craig Coy.

“Testing air cargo screening is a natural next step for Massport. By being a national test site for new systems and technologies, we ensure that Logan customers get the very best in security.”

The initial test period will run for approximately 30 days and be staffed by employees of L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems utilising its x-ray cargo screening equipment.

Additional tests of similar duration with different versions and configurations of L-3 hardware devices are also planned.

The current testing phase involves the scanning of entire trucks loaded with passenger aircraft-bound cargo.

This pilot programme is intended only to determine the feasibility of air cargo security scanning and is not intended as a security procedure at this time, a Massport spokesperson said.

The company will also be disposing of its interest in the China Merchants Shekou Holdings Ltd.

The land, totalling 650,000 square metres is at Shekou’s Embankment 3, where Shekou Container Terminals Phase III will be built.

Phase III will include three container-specialised berths, numbers 5, 6 and 7, with the total investment coming to CNY3.1 billion (US$374.5 million).

CMHI owns the entire project.

Phase III has a 1,200 metre long berth with a depth of 17 metres and an expected annual capacity of 2 million TEU.

Berth 5 is scheduled for completion in mid-2005 whereas the other two berths will become operational in 2006.

CMHI currently owns 32.5 per cent of Shekou Container Terminals Phase 1 (berths 1 and 2) and a 51 per cent of Shekou Container Terminals Phase II (berths 3 and 4).

The land for Phase III is next to Phase I and Phase II, allowing the new terminal to share resources.

Dr Fu Yuning, CMHI’s chairman, said the construction of SCT III is a crucial step in the CMHI port strategies in further developing the Western Shenzhen Port Area and accommodating the fast growing container market in the Pearl River Delta.

On completion of SCT III, the company said it will be able to consolidate its present port resources in such a way that it can transform the Western Shenzhen Port Area into a professionally managed mega container terminals area and a base for transit-containers in south China.

CMHI is increasing its shareholding in Zhangzhou CM Port by 11 per cent, bringing its total holding to 60 per cent.

Dr Fu said: “Zhangzhou Port is a significant port to CMHI in the Xiamen Bay area. We remain upbeat about the steady growth trend in economy and trade in this region in the years to come.

“Increasing our stake in Zhangzhou CM Port will strength CMHI’s control and management in the port business and is a reflection of our strong confidence.”

Zhangzhou Port has been designated by the Ministry of Communication as the pilot port for direct trade with Taiwan, and port business has improved considerably this year.

It recorded a net profit of nearly CNY10 million for the first nine months of this year, realising profits one year ahead of schedule, the company said.

Presently, berths 1 and 2 are under construction. On completion next year, the two berths will have a total capacity of 1 million TEU.