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.
Airbus announced another wave of orders from Middle East airlines on the second day of the Dubai Air Show, following the hundreds of orders and commitments already unveiled by Airbus and Boeing on the first day of the show. Yemenia signed a deal for 10 Airbus A350-800s, which the airline says is part of its long-haul fleet modernization effort. The Yemeni carrier already operates four A310s and two A330-200s in its long-haul fleet. It flies from Sanaa and Aden to cities in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and intends to expand its network in Africa.
The Air Transport Association predicts passenger numbers will be up 4% during the 12-day Thanksgiving travel period compared to last year, with airlines and airports deploying extra resources to handle the increase. ATA believes 27 million passengers will fly between Nov. 16 and Nov. 26, averaging about 2.3 million per day. This compares with the year-to-date average of about 2.1 million per day. The busiest days will be the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the following Sunday and Monday, when ATA expects more than 2.5 million passengers a day.
Middle East aircraft lessor DAE Capital yesterday signed initial agreements representing more than 200 aircraft, with the potential orders to be split evenly between Airbus and Boeing. The DAE deals are expected to be firmed up by the end of the year. DAE is the aircraft leasing and financing division of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, and it aims to become a major player in the international aircraft leasing market. A memorandum of understanding with Airbus covers 70 A320s and 30 A350s, while the Boeing deal includes 70 737s and a mix of 787s, 777s and 747s.
