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 Cargo may get rid of all of its 19 MD-11 freighters if a court ruling banning night flights at Frankfurt Airport is upheld. CEO Carsten Spohr said that keeping the fleet without being able to operate nightly takeoffs in Frankfurt was not economically viable any more. In this case, Lufthansa Cargo would focus on belly freight onboard Lufthansa’s passenger airline fleet, and cut about half of its 5,000-strong workforce. As a result of the global slump in airfreight, six MD-11s are currently pulled from revenue services.
CSA Czech Airlines is cutting five aircraft, or 10% of its fleet, in the coming months to adapt its capacity to lower demand. The airline wants to sell three Boeing 737s and will return two Airbus A310s to its lessor following a decision to discontinue the Prague-New York service. Proceeds from the sale of the 737s are intended to “help the company to obtain sufficient cash for the winter,” CSA said. The airline plans to cut 20% of all management positions and aims to reduce staff costs by 15%.
Air Berlin said yesterday it might cancel its order for 25 Boeing 787s. Delays in the program are “everything but satisfactory,” CFO Ulf Huettmeyer said. “It’s no fun anymore.”
