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.
The New Zealand government has given the go-ahead for Air New Zealand’s code-share with Etihad Airways, linking two carriers, which have recently formed alliances with Australia’s Virgin Blue Group. Air New Zealand will be able to connect to Etihad's long-haul flights from Australian destinations to Abu Dhabi and beyond to London. Etihad, meanwhile, gets to link to more New Zealand-Australia routes as well as New Zealand domestic flights. The Etihad-Air New Zealand connection was a logical one, since Virgin Blue is a common partner.
Air New Zealand has appointed Christopher Luxon as the new head of its international operation. Luxon will be group general manager-international airline, effective May 30, replacing Ed Sims, who last year announced he would leave Air NZ after 10 years with the company. Luxon is currently CEO of Unilever Canada, a regional operation of the consumer products giant Unilever.
Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways will be inspecting more than 30 of their Boeing 737 Classics for skin fatigue, with four requiring checks within five days. The inspections meet the deadlines established by a U.S. FAA directive and a service bulletin issued by Boeing, following a fuselage rupture on a Southwest Airlines 737-300 on April 1. Japanese aviation regulators issued the same directive.
