Adrian is Auckland bureau chief for Aviation Week, based in New Zealand. He covers commercial aviation in the Asia-Pacific region.
Adrian was previously based in Aviation Week’s Washington office for nine years, writing for a range of the group’s publications and covering many aspects of the commercial aviation industry. He has won Australasian and international awards for his aviation writing.
Prior to joining Aviation Week in 2002, Adrian covered aviation industry and policy issues for two other publishing companies in Washington. He has also worked for newspapers in Texas and New Zealand, covering a wide range of topics. Adrian graduated from Auckland University with a degree in history and English in 1992.
While Lion Air’s leasing unit may eventually be an active player in the third-party leasing market, for now it will concentrate on financing aircraft for and channeling them to the parent carrier. Indonesia’s Lion is one of many low-cost carriers (LCCs) that have set up separate leasing entities. Its unit, Transportation Partners, was set up in 2011 and is based in the financial hub of Singapore.
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) posted a hefty net loss in what could be its last-detailed quarterly-earnings report for some years, highlighting challenges facing the government as it prepares to delist the carrier’s shares. MAS lost RM576.1 million ($167.7 million) for the three months ended September 30, up from a deficit of RM375.4 million in the same period last year. According to MAS, although “declining fuel prices have helped stem losses in our quarterly result, Malaysia Airlines continues to struggle despite efforts to reduce the financial bleeding.”
Low-cost carrier (LCC) Jetstar Japan is preparing to launch international services early next year thanks to a new capital injection by joint owners Japan Airlines (JAL) and Qantas. The Tokyo-based LCC has concentrated on domestic routes since it launched in 2012, but its owners see international expansion as key to reaching profitability. JAL’s rival carrier, All Nippon Airways (ANA), has launched two LCCs to serve international destinations: Peach and Vanilla.
