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.
FAA yesterday introduced a final rule that will create separate corridors for local flights over New York’s Hudson River and those transiting the airspace. In addition, the rule will require pilots in a new special flight rules area to follow flight safety procedures that were previously not mandatory.
Mexicana hopes to place an order next year for either Airbus A350s or Boeing 787s as long-haul fleet replacements, and the carrier is also already looking at options to replace its new Boeing 717 fleet once their leases expire.
Mexicana intends to sell its mileage program in the near future, a move which has been considered by many carriers, but executed by few. The timing of any sale will depend on the state of financial markets, but “we are taking every step to do that [as soon as] next year,” said Santiago Ontañón, the group’s VP for loyalty programs. Mexicana envisages either selling a majority stake or the entire unit. The ultimate decision to proceed would be made by the Mexicana group’s board.
