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.
Australia’s Tiger Airways is preparing to resume flying on a second route following the lifting of the carrier’s operating suspension last week. Tiger is restoring its Melbourne-Brisbane route beginning Aug. 18 after reintroducing its Sydney-Melbourne service on Aug. 12. The carrier is “resuming Australian domestic services gradually,” and regulators are only allowing it 18 sectors per day during August.
While regulators are allowing Tiger Airways Australia to fly again after a five-week-long grounding, the long-term viability of the low-cost carrier is shakier than ever. The airline was already a financial drain on its parent, the Singapore-based Tiger Airways group, before safety problems led to its suspension. Now Tiger will gradually relaunch domestic routes, but airline analysts question how much more patience group management will have with the troubled carrier.
A new Japanese low-cost carrier will operate under the Jetstar brand and will launch by the end of 2012, according to Japanese media reports. The Nikkei business daily says an agreement has been reached among Jetstar, Japan Airlines and Mitsubishi Corp. for a 3 billion yen ($39 million) joint venture. Mitsubishi would reduce its 33.4% share in the LCC by next summer, and new shareholders would be brought in, the reports say. Mitsubishi would handle the leasing of aircraft to the carrier.
