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.
Lufthansa’s pilot union is launching a strike ballot next week that is expected to authorize unlimited strikes. Vereinigung Cockpit is mainly pushing for job security issues as mainline pilots are concerned their jobs could be taken over by the lower-paid colleagues at Germanwings or other group carriers, such as Brussels Airlines, Austrian or Swiss. The two sides are also still trying to resolve a long-standing conflict about who should fly an incoming fleet of Embraer 195s.
Airfreight operators in Europe have seen a notable improvement in the business environment, but opinions are split on whether the trend is sustainable. Lufthansa Cargo is embracing a more optimistic view of the future, and is stepping back from fleet reduction plans. Others are not so sure that is the right strategy. A Cargolux official noted that the company is being “conservative.” While business has started to show signs of rebounding, the official said the freight carrier wonders, “How long will it last? Will it only be a bubble?”
An Air Berlin Boeing 737-800 overshot the runway after aborting the takeoff run at Dortmund Airport. The aircraft had started its takeoff roll for a scheduled flight to Las Palmas,Canary Islands, from Dortmund’s 6,600-foot runway in snowy conditions. After about 30 seconds and at high speed, takeoff was aborted, and after about 35 seconds reverse thrust was applied. The aircraft nevertheless could not come to a halt on the runway, but got stuck in soft ground just beyond the end of the runway.
