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.
Mexicana intends to sell its mileage program in the near future, a move which has been considered by many carriers, but executed by few. The timing of any sale will depend on the state of financial markets, but “we are taking every step to do that [as soon as] next year,” said Santiago Ontañón, the group’s VP for loyalty programs. Mexicana envisages either selling a majority stake or the entire unit. The ultimate decision to proceed would be made by the Mexicana group’s board.
With American and Delta both trying to convince Japan Airlines that they are its best long-term partners, their arguments are increasingly focused on whether Delta-JAL dominance in Tokyo would be desirable for regulators on both sides of the Pacific. Remaining in the oneworld alliance gives JAL the strongest chance of winning antitrust immunity (ATI) for transpacific service, American CEO Gerard Arpey said during a oneworld event in Mexico City this week.
An initial decision on the oneworld antitrust immunity application could be issued by the U.S. Transportation Dept. as soon as the week of Nov. 23, according to sources close to the process. DOT and the U.S. Justice Dept. are still discussing the latter agency’s concerns with the proposal.
