He started his journalism career in 1992 as a freelance writer for Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany’s largest daily national newspaper and soon specialised in air transport. Jens joined Aviation Week and Aviation Daily in 2000 as one of the European correspondents. Later his role was expanded to cover international air transport. In 2013 he was named Managing Editor Commercial.
Jens frequently appears on radio and TV to comment on industry matters. In 2003, he received the Hugo Junkers Award of the German aviation press for his coverage of Fairchild Dornier’s bankruptcy. He was named the country’s top travel and air transport writer by the Travel Industry Club three times. Jens graduated from the Munich School of Journalism.
Air Berlin and Etihad face serious opposition from some of their European rivals against the plan for closer integration and more control for the Gulf carrier. Senior industry sources tell Aviation Week that “airlines will definitely not accept” any new set-up that would be contrary to effective ownership and control mechanisms, and they’re confident Germany’s transport ministry will reject any solution to the growing Air Berlin crisis that is not on firm legal grounds.
Air Berlin is expected to be de-listed and its major shareholder, Etihad, is understood to be planning to increase its stake in what could be the beginning of a new phase in its partnership strategy, industry sources tell Aviation Week. The companies did not comment.
Jens Flottau (Frankfurt), Guy Norris (San Diego), Amy Svitak (Paris)
Two weeks after Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared, aviation safety experts continue to toil over plausible causes. But even if debris from the aircraft is recovered soon, it may be months before a clearer picture emerges about what happened onboard the Boeing 777.
