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.
A weak fourth quarter has dampened optimism surrounding fast-growing, low-fare carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle, but the airline was still able to boost earnings in its fiscal year 2011, ended Jan. 31.
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) does not plan to follow the example of its competitors Finnair and regional carrier Cimber Sterling by outsourcing mainline flying to a lower-cost platform, CEO Rickard Gustafson tells Aviation Week. “That does not change our strategic decisions. There is still demand for a provider of a solid business traveler product,” he says. Gustafson, who took the helm of SAS last year, does not rule out more outsourcing in other areas, such as ground-handling or MRO, but the flying will remain inside the company.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) mandated the replacement of six aluminum rivets on the Airbus A380 in its latest airworthiness directive (AD 12-014) for the type. The rivets have been used at the junction of Fuselage Stringer 21 left and right and Frame 0. During an engineering review, the pieces have been found “not in compliance with the certification requirements.” While the structural limit load capability is still ensured, the rivets may not sustain ultimate load stress, according to fatigue analysis.
