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.
When Europe's second-tier airlines started their slow slide into deficits and cutbacks 10 years ago, there was always hope that somebody would make an investment and rescue them. But several years into this deteriorating situation, there is no money left in Europe to spend on bailing out airlines.
Many have wondered whether Air Berlin could survive the slow winter season without another capital injection and/or loan from its biggest shareholder, Etihad Airways. After all, the airline's reserves had been shrinking and another short-term restructuring program, Turbine 2013, was announced.
The Persian Gulf area carriers have been among the winners of the seismic shift in global air transport. As they continue to grow, upgrading infrastructure will be key to sustaining the pace.
