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.
Continental reported an impressive gain in unit revenue for March, which analysts see as a very positive sign for its upcoming first-quarter financial results. Consolidated passenger unit revenue increased 14.5-15.5% year-on-year in March, with mainline unit revenue up 13-14%. This was higher than February’s gains of 7.7% for consolidated traffic and 5.8% for mainline traffic. Consolidated traffic climbed 5.2% on a 0.5% capacity rise, resulting in load factor growing 3.7 points to 83.1%.
A new report from FAA shows that the controller retirement spike is now receding, with retirement numbers expected to decline in fiscal year 2010 for the third consecutive year. Controller workforce attrition was 13% lower than FAA expected in FY2009, with retirements – which make up about half the losses – down 28% versus earlier estimates. Retirements and total attrition are again trending below projections in FY2010. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association says a new contract signed last year is a major reason retirements are lower.
The White House is back to square one in its attempts to fill the vacant administrator’s position at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) after nominee Maj. Gen. (ret.) Robert Harding withdrew his name from consideration March 26.
