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.
Philippine carriers are urging the country’s aviation regulators not to negotiate additional air-service rights for the airlines of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific—usually rivals—issued a joint statement to “reiterate our appeal against holding a new round of bilateral air negotiations with the United Arab Emirates in the near future.” The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) is due to decide on Dec. 19 whether to begin accelerated air services talks with the UAE.
Virgin Australia is installing a business-class section in the aircraft it flies between Australia and New Zealand, which will complete the rollout of the premium product across all of the group’s mainline fleet. The upgrade will apply to the 10 Boeing 737-800s in Virgin’s New Zealand-based unit. These aircraft are used for all flights between the two countries, as well as for flights serving the Pacific Islands.
Dubai-based Emirates Airline is further boosting its Airbus A380 services to Australia, and it plans to have five daily flights with this aircraft type by the middle of next year.
