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 Japan Airlines saw its profits slip slightly in the six months through September, falling fuel prices have prompted the carrier to raise its profitability guidance for its full fiscal year. JAL reported net income of ¥80.3 billion ($719.4 million) for its fiscal 2014 first half, down by 2% from the same period in the previous year. This contrasted with rival All Nippon Airways, which a day earlier announced its net profit rose 78% to ¥35.7 billion for the six-month period.
Australia’s competition watchdog has failed in its attempt to force legal penalties on Air New Zealand and Garuda Indonesia as part of a broader action against airlines over alleged collusion in freight pricing. An Australian federal court ruled in favor of Air New Zealand and Garuda, which were the only two of several carriers still fighting the allegations. Other airlines settled and agreed to pay hefty fines.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) recorded a healthy improvement in profits for the six months through September, as the airline’s rapid expansion in international markets provided a significant revenue boost. The carrier’s parent, ANA Holdings, reported a net profit of ¥35.7 billion ($327.3 million) for its fiscal 2014 first half, up 78.2% from the profit in the same period a year earlier. Operating revenue increased 9.1% to ¥854.8 billion, largely due to ANA’s international growth strategy.
