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.
Lufthansa subsidiary BMI is close to selling its BMI Regional division. The company stated that it is “in advanced discussions” to sell the unit to a “U.K.-based investor group previously associated with the regional business.” The investors would buy the airline in the form of BMI Regional shares, and the transaction would include all aircraft, employees and the route network.
Lufthansa revised downwards its capacity plans for next year, given the current market uncertainties. The airline plans to grow capacity by 3%, down from 9% as originally envisaged. The move comes after forward bookings proved to be increasingly volatile but are far from showing a fundamental decline. The airline plans to accelerate the retirement of 38 aircraft to 2012. The initiative includes nine long-haul aircraft (Boeing 747-400s and Airbus A340-300s) and 29 narrowbodies.
Lufthansa CEO Christoph Franz has not yet given up on efforts to add the newly emerging LATAM Airlines group to Star Alliance. “We hope we can persuade LATAM that Star is the best alliance for them,” Franz said yesterday. He said that given the recent ruling by Chile’s antitrust authority, a quick decision is necessary.
