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 sees significant risks in the current financial year, as concerns mount over the effect of the Greek financial crisis and a strengthening U.S. dollar. The airline is not saying whether it expects to be profitable this year despite the anticipated economic recovery that is already perceptible in forward bookings to destinations other than Greece.
Dubai’s new al-Makhtoum International Airport will open on June 27, a senior manager for the Dubai World Central project said yesterday. The facility initially will be available for cargo carriers with a freight terminal being able to handle 250,000 tons per year initially. The capacity will rise to 600,000 tons later. A first passenger terminal will also be opened soon. The building is expected to handle about 7 million passengers annually and could be used mainly by low-fare carriers.
Amadeus, Europe’s leading global distribution system, is launching an initial public offering (IPO) despite unfavorable market conditions. The move, likely to happen in the first half of the year, is expected to raise €910 million (US$1.3 billion). Amadeus is majority-owned by private equity investors BC Partners and Cinven. The two together hold 52.8%, while Air France-KLM controls 23.14%, and Lufthansa and Iberia own 11.57% each. All the existing shareholders plan to keep more than half of their current stocks, an official said.
