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.
Air New Zealand is introducing “permanent and reusable” radio-frequency identification (RFID) boarding passes, and the carrier claims it is only the second to employ this technology.
FAA Acting Administrator Robert Sturgell is expected to dedicate three new runways around the U.S. on Nov. 20, at Washington Dulles, Chicago O’Hare and Seattle. The total cost for these runways is almost $2 billion, of which about $625 million came from Airport Improvement Program grants. FAA estimates the three runways combined have the potential to accommodate 300,000 more operations a year.
Qantas and British Airways have agreed to pay hefty fines to Australian authorities over alleged cargo price-fixing, with other carriers expected to follow. Qantas will pay A$20 million (US$12.8 million), and BA A$5 million. The settlements still must be approved by the Federal Court. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said it is continuing to “investigate other airlines, some of which are assisting voluntarily, while others are not.” The ACCC expects to resolve investigations with other cooperating airlines soon.
