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.
Three major European airlines could be sold in the next few weeks, as investors intensify efforts to reshape Europe’s air transport sector. At Austrian Airlines, non-binding bids for the 43% government stake were due Sept. 12 while a group of Italian investors were struggling to reach a last-minute deal with the airline’s unions over pay cuts and productivity improvements. At the same time, Brussels Airlines was pondering which of three interested partners it will select as its founding shareholders seek a way out.
Moscow-based S7 Airlines will replace all of its remaining Soviet-era aircraft this year, citing their high fuel burn. The carrier says it is in talks to lease four more Boeing 767-300ERs, four 737-800s and two 737-400s for delivery early next year to fill the capacity gap. S7 says aircraft, such as its Tupolev Tu-154s, use twice as much fuel as Airbus or Boeing narrowbodies.
Lufthansa and subsequently Star Alliance are close to moving away from their planned Russian partner Air Union, after the five-carrier conglomerate decided to move its Moscow operations primarily to Vnukovo Airport. Industry sources say that if the move is permanent, Lufthansa may soon initiate contacts with other Russian airlines.
