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.
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has unveiled more details about its route rationalization plan, a move to cut unprofitable routes, so it can improve its financial prospects. The airline says that in January and February it will axe seven international routes, including Rome, Buenos Aires, Dubai and both Johannesburg and Cape Town, representing almost 12% of its total passenger capacity. MAS underwent a management shake-up early this year in which company outsider Ahmad Jauhari Yahya was appointed CEO and charged with turning the carrier around.
Lufthansa is finally starting the process of transferring more non-hub flights to its lower-cost subsidiary Germanwings. All European services from Stuttgart, Cologne/Bonn and Hannover are being taken over by the carrier, Lufthansa said Wednesday.
Star Alliance has appointed former United Airlines Senior VP-Alliances Mark Schwab as its new CEO. Schwab will replace Jaan Albrecht, who is moving on to become CEO of Austrian Airlines on Jan. 1, 2012. Schwab was one of three candidates on the shortlist for the position, according to industry sources. One of the other two is believed to have been Alex de Gunten, the secretary general of the Latin American and Carribean Airline Association (ALTA). Schwab, who recently retired from United, also was a member of the Star Alliance management board.
