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 arrival of two Boeing 737-800s at American Airlines in March signaled the beginning of an ambitious fleet overhaul, as American prepares to take delivery of nearly 120 long-haul and narrow-body aircraft and update its 757s and 767s for new roles.
For American Airlines, this decade has been defined by a relentless procession of external shocks that have rocked the entire industry. But the airline is proving that even the worst short-term crises cannot distract it from its long-term goals. While many carriers would claim this philosophy, few have adhered to it as tightly as American. This in large part explains why the airline has taken a markedly different approach to problems shared by all of the network majors.
American Airlines is hoping tighter links with its Oneworld alliance partners will yield significant international market opportunities, as tough economic conditions and capacity cuts limit the carrier’s ability to expand its network. American intends to cut its international capacity by 2.5% this year and has not ruled out further reductions if bookings for the summer are worse than expected. However, it is still introducing a few new routes—including Madrid-Dallas on May 1—and may add more next year.
