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.
Stelios Haji-Ioannou’s EasyGroup is increasing its stake in African low-fare carrier Fastjet from less than 3% to 5.81%, by converting licensing and consulting fees due until December 2013 into additional equity. “The roll-out of this embryonic operation from Tanzania to the rest of Africa will clearly take both time and more investment,” says the founder of U.K. low-fare carrier EasyJet. “I have faith that the extensive airline experience of Ed Winter and his management team will take the company to the next level,” Haji-Ioannou adds.
Emirates Airline may be considering transatlantic services from the U.K. if granted regulatory approval. Laurie Berryman, the airline’s vice president for the U.K., in an recent interview with British trade publication Buying Business Travel said that Emirates would like to see complete open skies (including fifth-freedom opportunities for non-U.K. carriers) for all the “regional” airports in the country, to take pressure off the already congested London Heathrow Airport.
MTU Aero Engines is suffering from weaker than expected MRO business for the Pratt & Whitney PW2000 and General Electric CF-6 engines, as key operators such as United Airlines and American Airlines appear to have cut back on shop visits this year. The engine specialist was forced to pull back on its profit guidance for the full year, and now says it will only reach last year’s level of about €235 million ($311 million). The company had earlier projected earnings to rise by up to 12%.
