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 has taken over SAS Group’s 20% stake in BMI amidst indications that it could soon dispose of its British subsidiary. The airline yesterday confirmed it bought the stake that SAS has been trying to sell for years for €41.6 million plus a possible additional payment that is due when certain confidential conditions are met in an onward sale.
Issues such as a lack of pilots and insufficient traffic rights are more of a challenge for Saudi Arabian low-fare airline NAS Air than competing airlines, CEO Walter Prenzler told delegates at the World Low Cost Airlines Congress 2009 yesterday in Barcelona.
Brussels Airlines is looking to grow its long-haul fleet as soon as economic conditions allow. CEO Bernard Gustin told The DAILY that the carrier is aiming at a fleet of up to 10 Airbus A330s. It currently has four A330-300s that are all deployed on its 14 African routes. Gustin says Brussels’ recent integration into the Lufthansa group could allow it to grow further in Africa, using two to three additional A330s.
