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.
Bombardier’s final sales tallies reflect a bumper fiscal year, with deliveries up 10% and orders almost doubling, compared with the previous year. For the year ending Jan. 31, Bombardier achieved 698 orders, up from 326 in the 2006/2007 fiscal year. Deliveries increased from 326 to 361. The company singled out the business aircraft segment in particular as having a record year.
Boeing reported a strong week for orders, with 59 aircraft booked during the seven days through Feb. 26 — including 30 anonymous 737 orders. The latest total also includes 19 737s and six 777s for Continental, four 737s for RAK Airways. These orders boost the net order total for 2008 to 189. Of the total, 75 orders are from unidentified customers. 737s dominate other aircraft classes with 132 orders, 48 of which are anonymous. The 787 has 40 orders, the 777 16, and there is a single 747 order.
JAL intends to increase its reliance on small and medium-sized aircraft in the next three years, which the carrier believes will make its operations more efficient as it prepares for major capacity expansion at Tokyo airports.
