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 2004 agreement on the transfer of European Union passenger name records to the U.S. authorities is illegal and must be amended by Sept. 30, according to a ruling yesterday by the EU Court of Justice. European Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini stressed that the court had ruled only on the legal basis of the PNR accord, not on its content. The commissioner said he is confident that the EU Council of Ministers would quickly hammer out a solution that would be "similar concerning the content."
Ferrovial yesterday accused U.K. airport operator BAA of overvaluing its worth, after BAA's board once again rejected an increased takeover offer from Ferrovial. Ferrovial boosted its offer from 840 pence per share to 900 pence, valuing the company at GBP9.7 billion (US$18.3 billion). However, BAA would not move from its recent declaration that its shares are worth at least 940 pence per share, for a total value of more than GBP10.1 billion. The Ferrovial offer "still falls well short of the true value of the company," BAA Chairman Marcus Agius said.
Aer Lingus yesterday announced it is leaving the Oneworld airline alliance, saying the partnership has become much less useful as the airline has evolved into a point-to-point, low-cost carrier.
