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.
Iberia Express has appointed Luis Gallego as its new CEO. The 42-year old executive previously served as COO at Iberia’s low-fare affiliate Vueling. Gallego worked for regional carrier Air Nostrum from 1997 to 2006 before moving on to Clickair, which merged with Vueling in 2009. Iberia Express is expected to start operations in March 2012, and will fly feeder services into Iberia’s Madrid hub.
Air Berlin's ambitions were huge. The former German charter carrier wanted to take on the big guys. Now it appears the airline is up for sale. Several industry executives tell Aviation Week that Air Berlin has approached other airlines about becoming a strategic investor in it, Germany's second-largest airline. Etihad Airways, Hainan Airlines and Emirates are understood to be among the carriers that have been contacted. The response has apparently been lukewarm so far, and it is uncertain if a deal will be struck. Air Berlin declines to comment.
Lufthansa Cargo shifted two MD-11Fs from its Asian network onto the North Atlantic and into Houston and Los Angeles because of weakness in the China market, but while China traffic is hurting, the carrier does not see a broad collapse in demand next year.
