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.
Airbus, which officially opened the A350 final assembly line (FAL) on Tuesday alongside a two-day supplier conference, is trying to reassure suppliers and customers that its widebody program remains on track for first flight in the summer of 2013. “Our message is, the program is on plan and the upcoming major milestones will be on plan, too,” Airbus Chief Operating Officer Guenther Butschek said during an inauguration ceremony for the new FAL.
Aegean Airlines has launched another attempt to buy domestic rival Olympic Airways in an agreement valued at €72 million ($94 million). Under the accord, Aegean will purchase 100% of Olympic from owner Marfin Investment Group (MIG), paying for the deal in installments. Both airlines’ brands will be retained, although Olympic will become a subsidiary of Aegean.
Air France CEO Alexandre de Juniac says new partner Air Berlin will have to decide if it will remain a member of the Oneworld alliance. De Juniac said in an interview with German daily FAZ that the two carriers plan to get to know each other better in the coming months. But if they move closer, Air Berlin “would have to decide to stay in Oneworld or to change over to Air France-KLM’s SkyTeam” alliance.
