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.
Ryanair is in the early stages of talks with both Russia’s United Aircraft Corp. (UAC) and China’s Comac regarding a possible order for either the MS-21 or the C919 jet. “They are very keen to work with Ryanair,” CEO Michael O’Leary says. “We haven’t got a firm offer on price, and at the moment we don’t have certainty about when they will actually deliver the aircraft,” he cautions. “There is a long way from the lovely, shiny brochure to ‘there’s the aircraft over there.’”
Spanish low-fare carrier Vueling significantly improved its profitability in 2010. The airline reported a net profit of €45.99 million ($63 million) for the year, up 66% from 2009. The increase was steeper than the 32% growth in revenues to €797 million. Vueling reached a net margin of 5.7%. Unit costs excluding fuel decreased 3%, but were up 4% including fuel. Fuel expenses rose 45% and particularly affected results for the fourth quarter, in which the airline posted a €4.4 million net loss.
Airbus Military and the Europrop International (EPI) engine consortium appear close to a settlement over claims and counterclaims on cost overruns in the Airbus A400M program. MTU Aero Engines, a key EPI partner, has dissolved a €45 million ($62 million) provision for possible Airbus claims, the company revealed in its annual results presentation. Such a step is only possible if management believes there is a better than 50% chance it will no longer need the money.
