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.
The transition of Lufthansa’s non-hub, short-haul flying to Germanwings could take significantly longer than planned if the airline and its unions cannot agree on the terms of operating the segment, company sources say. The airline currently is in negotiations with cabin crew union UFO about a new collective bargaining agreement, and a mediation proposal is due next week. There are early signs that the union might not agree to the company’s offer, which could lead to further industrial action in December.
Ethiopian Airlines is leasing another three Boeing 787-8s from International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC). The aircraft, which are to be delivered in the first half of 2015, are in addition to 10 787s ordered by the African airline. The airline has already placed its first 787-8 into service and with the new long-term leases expects to have 13 787s in service by the end of 2015. The ILFC 787s will be powered by General Electric GEnx-1B70/75 engines.
South African low-fare carrier 1time Friday ceased operations and filed for liquidation, providing no notice to stranded passengers. The airline operated mostly domestic services with a fleet of 11 MD-80s, although it also provided flights to Zambia and Namibia, and was due to start services to Zimbabwe on the day it ceased operation. 1time was launched in 2004 and has been in financial distress for some time. The company filed for so-called “business rescue,” South Africa’s equivalent of bankruptcy protection, in July and continued to operate.
