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.
Travel agent and online travel groups are urging the U.S. Transportation Dept. to limit any grant of antitrust immunity to American, British Airways and other oneworld members. If it does grant ATI, DOT should “carve out…any form of cooperation by the joint applicants in their dealings with independent travel distributors,” the industry associations said in a submission to DOT. The groups represented are the American Society of Travel Agents and the Interactive Travel Services Association.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will next week visit industry and government officials in Europe to discuss international security cooperation. Napolitano is scheduled to visit the International Air Transport Association on Jan. 22, part of DHS’ efforts to “work with the airline industry to ensure all flights to the U.S. meet both international and [TSA] security standards.” The day before, Napolitano is expected to meet with her European counterparts in Toledo, Spain, at the invitation of Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Rubalcaba.
The Air Transport Association yesterday reported that its airline cost index dropped 36% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2009, with lower fuel prices a significant contributor to the decline. The average price for fuel fell from $3.51 to $1.94 per gallon for the third quarter. However, the average cost for a full-time equivalent employee, including benefits and taxes, rose 7.6% to $81,235. Fuel and labor comprise nearly half of airline operating expenses.
