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.
Alaska Air Group recorded a net loss of $75.2 million for the fourth quarter, and it is seeing the same demand pressure this year as its competitors. Excluding special items, Alaska saw a profit of $16.4 million in the quarter, which was actually an improvement from the loss of $17.9 million in the same period in 2007. For the full year, Alaska’s net loss was $135.9 million, but it would have eked out a $4.4 million profit, excluding special items.
There is increasing buzz around Washington that former Air Line Pilots Association head Randy Babbitt is the new frontrunner candidate for FAA administrator. Babbitt is currently a partner at Oliver Wyman. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood recently suggested he wasn’t satisfied with the field of candidates, and said he would spread the net wider (DAILY, Feb. 3). Follow the latest developments in the FAA administrator search on The DAILY’s blog at AviationWeek.com/wings.
