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.
Passenger traffic on international routes declined at an increasing rate in May, contradicting earlier signs that traffic might have bottomed out, according to the International Air Transport Association. An apparent stabilization seen in previous months’ numbers now looks to have been caused by a small rise in distance flown, due to the “geographical pattern of changing travel markets,” IATA said. “There are some promising signs, but passenger numbers were still falling in May.”
The Senate Commerce Committee is aiming to mark up its FAA reauthorization bill on July 21, and there is unlikely to be much opposition to the version introduced this week. Supporters want the bill moved soon for a Senate vote, after which House and Senate conferees will address differences over such items as increasing the passenger facility charge, foreign repair stations and airline antitrust immunity. Lawmakers want at least to begin the conference process by September. The House passed its version of the reauthorization bill in May.
Airline and airport groups are concerned about some aspects of the Senate reauthorization bill, with much more debate to come on issues like passenger facility charge (PFC) increases, avionics equipage deadlines, and passenger rights clauses.
