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.
JAL intends to upgrade its fleet of freighter aircraft with the addition of new 747s and 767s, to support expansion of its global cargo network. During the airline's next fiscal year - which begins April 1 - JAL plans to retire five 747F-200s. Three 747-400BCFs will be added to the fleet, converted from passenger aircraft. This will give JAL 11 747s, comprising seven -400s and four 747Fs. This summer JAL is scheduled to take delivery of three new 767Fs, boosting its freighter fleet to 14 aircraft by next March.
JAL plans to increase frequencies on the Tokyo-Hanoi route from two to three flights per week from March 25. The existing flights are on Monday and Friday, and the new service will be on Wednesday. This change will allow JAL to offer daily flights on this route, in combination with code-share partner Vietnam Airlines.
Airbus has seen a surge of orders by Asian companies for its corporate jet program recently, with new orders for corporate or VIP aircraft ranging from A318s to A340s. An undisclosed customer from Asia ordered a VIP version of the A340-500, Airbus said. This order is the first for the VIP A340 from Asia, and the third overall this year. Airbus said the market for VIP widebodies has been "increasingly active in recent years." The latest order will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines.
