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.
Daimler CFO Bodo Uebber has been named as new chairman of EADS. Uebber, 47, is to succeed Rüdiger Grube, who will take over the CEO post at Deutsche Bahn railways in May. Uebber has already been a member of EADS’ board of directors. As Grube will leave the body entirely, Wilfried Porth, Daimler’s head of human resources, will join the board as an ordinary member.
Members of Austrian Airlines’ so-called “syndicate” this week approved the sale of their stakes to Lufthansa. The syndicate comprises a group of investors, mainly banks, that together hold a 7.5% stake in the airline. Austria’s state holding OEIAG is the biggest shareholder with 47%. Lufthansa has agreed to buy its alliance partner, provided regulatory approval is given and commercial conditions can still be met.
German pilot union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) has two candidates running for its presidency who represent materially different strategies. Two Lufthansa captains, Winfried Streicher and Hans Thumm, are heading competing teams to succeed the current board, led by Tim Würfel, also a Lufthansa captain. Results of the elections are to be published on April 30.
