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.
Airlines are concerned by strong signals from House lawmakers that they want to institute new penalties to compensate passengers for delayed bags. Language was added to the House reauthorization bill requiring the Government Accountability Office to study the issue of baggage delays, and report back within 180 days. GAO would be directed to “make recommendations for establishing minimum standards to compensate a passenger in the case of an unreasonable delay in the delivery of checked baggage.”
American saw its mainline load factor decline by 2.9 points to 73.9% in February, as it sees the same trend of falling traffic that other U.S. airlines are reporting. Mainline traffic dropped 13.5%, compared to a 10.1% capacity cut for the month. As with some of its competitors, international markets were hardest hit. International traffic fell 13.2% on a 6.3% capacity reduction, depressing load factor 5.4 points to 68.1%. Domestic mainline traffic declined 13.7% compared to a 12.4% capacity reduction, and loads were down by just 1.2 points to 77.6%.
Anthony L. Velocci, Jr. (New York), Adrian Schofield (New York)
Giovanni Bisignani has been director general and CEO of the International Air Transport Assn. since 2002, and is expected to head the organization through 2011. Bisignani recently met with Aviation Week & Space Technology Editor-in-Chief Anthony L. Velocci, Jr., and Senior Air Transport Editor Adrian Schofield to talk about the dire condition of the airline industry, the urgent need for liberalization, and the steps being taken on safety and environmental issues.
