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 is close to acquiring a 51% stake in PFW Aerospace, a German supplier that is facing increasing financial difficulties due to delays in two major aircraft programs in which it participates—the A350XWB and the Boeing 787. According to Airbus, the decision was made to ensure a continued supply of parts for Airbus programs and avoid an imminent liquidity crisis. The company is a specialized producer of aircraft parts, such as pipes and tanks. It was owned by Airbus until 2001, when it was sold to private equity investor Safeguard International.
Air Berlin will reduce its fleet by 18 aircraft next summer in an effort to achieve financial turnaround. On Wednesday, new CEO Hartmut Mehdorn presented details of the “shape and size” restructuring plan, which aims to improve results by €200 million ($274 million) annually. Mehdorn succeeded long-standing CEO Joachim Hunold in September. Hunold stepped down days earlier.
Air Baltic CEO Berthold Flick says he “would have left a long time ago if I was not the owner” of the Latvian airline. Speaking at the World Low-Cost Airlines Conference Tuesday in London, Flick told delegates he will “definitely not be Air Baltic CEO this time next year.” However, the details of his departure depend on an agreement with the Latvian government.
