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.
Thai AirAsia is achieving healthy profit growth to match its rapid fleet expansion, which suggests why other airlines are rushing to set up operations in Thailand. The carrier achieved a profit of 297.3 million Baht ($9.4 million) in the third quarter, which was up nearly 60% versus the same period last year. The increase was even more notable for the nine months ending Sept. 30, with profits up 70% to 1.5 billion Baht. Capacity for the nine months was 22% higher, thanks to a net increase of six Airbus A320s.
Asiana Airlines saw its net profit rise 3.3% to 82.8 billion won ($77.2 million) in the third quarter, although as with its rival Korean Air, a strengthening local currency helped mask a decline in operating profits. The profitable third quarter was not enough to offset losses earlier in the year for Asiana. It lost 45.6 billion won through the first three quarters, compared to a profit of 40.8 billion won in the same period last year.
As Australia’s government moves closer to giving the go-ahead for a second Sydney airport, a leading transportation group stresses that such a decision would not obviate the need to ease restrictions at the existing Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport.
