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.
Continental yesterday reported a net loss of $136 million for the first quarter, and described a bleak outlook for demand in the second quarter, particularly on transatlantic routes. Chief Operating Officer Jeff Smisek said transatlantic ticket prices are down 35% on average compared to the same time last year, as these routes come under increasing pressure. If this trend remained unchanged, it would translate to a yield decline of about 25% in April, compared to the 20% drop in March. The transatlantic market is “pretty ugly right now,” Smisek said.
The threat of a strike by attendants at Air New Zealand’s subsidiary Zeal has re-emerged after mediation failed to produce a contract agreement last week. The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) said Zeal attendants will strike for four days from May 7. Zeal employees crew the Air NZ Airbus A320 aircraft primarily on NZ-Australia and Pacific routes. Air NZ has offered a pay increase, but Zeal attendants say this would still put them far below wage levels of workers directly employed by Air NZ.
United managed a first-quarter loss of $382 million — less than the same period last year — and it cut costs more than earlier predictions. On a GAAP basis, the deficit compared to a $549 million loss in 2008. Excluding non-cash hedge and other charges, the carrier lost $579 million.
