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 long-haul arm of the AirAsia group, AirAsia X, has taken a step closer to gaining the government approvals it needs to establish a joint venture affiliate in Thailand. Thailand’s Department of Civil Aviation has granted an air operator’s license (AOL) for Thai AirAsia X. The airline will also need an air operator’s certificate (AOC), and Malaysia-based AirAsia X says it expects that to be issued by the end of this year. This approval would clear the way for the new carrier to begin flying in the first quarter of 2014, as planned.
Australia’s new government has delivered on the first of its pre-election promises relating to aviation by implementing a freeze on a controversial departure tax known as the passenger movement charge (PMC). Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb has confirmed that the PMC will remain at A$55 ($52.11) per passenger for the full term of the current parliament. Robb is one of the new ministers appointed after last month's Liberal-National Coalition election victory.
Brisbane International Airport has launched a key stage in its controversial new runway project, even though it has still not reached a funding deal with its largest operator, Qantas Airways. The airport has been attempting to gain support from tenant airlines for its A$1.35 billion ($1.3 billion) second parallel runway, since the carriers will be helping pay for it through ticket taxes. An airport spokeswoman says of all the airlines using Brisbane only Qantas is not onboard.
