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.
In another potential blow to the Airbus A380 program, Air France-KLM yesterday indicated it may not take all of the aircraft it has on firm order for its Air France unit. According to Air France-KLM CEO Alexandre de Juniac, the airline may swap part of its remaining order for other aircraft types and plans to enter discussions with Airbus on the matter. Air France has taken delivery of nine of the 12 A380s it has on order, and is scheduled to receive another A380 in 2014.
Lufthansa CEO Christoph Franz says the company’s third-quarter financial performance indicates a “trend reversal” for the group’s passenger airlines. Lufthansa Passage, the unit comprising Lufthansa and Germanwings, posted a €300 million ($408 million) operating profit in the period, an improvement of 170% over the previous year. According to Franz, the unit’s short-haul segment also will post a full-year operating profit for the first time in five years.
