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.
German low-fare airline Germanwings recorded an 11.5% increase in passenger demand in June. The airline’s load factor improved by two percentage points to 76.5%. The company, a Lufthansa subsidiary, says forward bookings are also strong.
Robert Wall (London), Jens Flottau (Frankfurt), Adrian Schofield (Washington)
Regulatory and labor concessions are speeding several European network carriers’ momentum toward economic recovery, though labor and government taxation obstacles remain. A key move occurred July 14 when the European Commission granted Oneworld alliance partners British Airways, Iberia and American Airlines antitrust immunity that allows for closer coordination of operations. Although the decision is important for American, it is particularly critical for the European partners, whose pace of recovery has been slower.
The German federal government plans to charge up to €26 ($33.57) per trip under the ticket tax it expects to introduce in 2011. According to draft legislation obtained by The DAILY, the proposed charge would be €26 for long-haul flights and €13 for short- and medium-haul services. The plans are drawing fierce opposition from airlines, airports, associations and trade unions alike. The airlines say a total of 10,000 jobs are at risk if the tax is introduced and about 5 million passengers could switch their itineraries to airports in neighboring countries.
