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.
Air Berlin sold and is now leasing back two Airbus A320s from Macquarie AirFinance. The aircraft were built in 2006 and will be operated by Niki, Air Berlin’s Austrian affiliate.
Former Gulf Air CEO Björn Näf is joining Hong Kong-based business jet operator Metrojet. Näf started his aviation career as a pilot at Swiss regional carrier Crossair, which later turned into Swiss International Air Lines. At Swiss, Näf was executive VP-product and services before moving on to join Gulf Air. In the past year, Näf was adviser to the CEO of LOT Polish Airlines.
Klaus Heinemann will step down as CEO of Dutch aircraft leasing specialist AerCap next year. Heinemann will be replaced by Aengus Kelly, who is currently in charge of AerCap’s North American business. The changes become effective with the company’s next annual general meeting in May 2011. AerCap says Heinemann has chosen not to extend his contract beyond his retirement age of 60 that he will reach next year.
