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.
Adrian Schofield (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Jens Flottau (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
While the steep decline in global travel demand may finally be leveling out, the airline industry’s future looks cloudier than ever. Hopes for a steady recovery are being dashed by the prospect of prolonged yield weakness and the new threat of rising oil prices. And even as airlines are scrambling to defer aircraft orders—particularly in Asia, where the pain is greatest—many still worry that surplus capacity could stifle long-term growth.
International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) is yet again looking at placing large aircraft orders with Boeing and Airbus once its sale to a private equity consortium led by Onex Corp. and Greenbriar Equity is finalized. Despite the renewed optimism expressed by ILFC founder, Chairman and CEO Steven Udvar-Hazy at the International Air Transport Assn.’s annual general assembly here, the leasing giant is considering canceling its order for 10 Airbus A380s because of concerns about the aircraft’s market outlook.
There is growing anxiety within aviation circles that a failure to pinpoint the cause of the crash of Air France Flight 447 could leave a shadow hanging over the Airbus A330 and, possibly, the airline.
