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 is facing a walk-out by its ground staff and cabin crew after pay negotiations with the Verdi union failed yesterday. Verdi rejected Lufthansa’s offer of a 6.7% increase for the 50,000 staff and said it will start a strike ballot early next week. Verdi is expected to receive sufficient support from its members and could call for strikes in about two weeks in the middle of the busy holiday travel season.
Alain Flourens has been appointed as the new head of the Airbus A380 program with immediate effect. Flourens follows Mario Heinen, who is now executive VP and head of the Center of Excellence Fuselage and Cabin. Flourens previously was A320 program chief and will be replaced in his former role by Daniel Baubil, previously the deputy head of procurement.
Spanish low-fare carriers Vueling and Clickair will merge, the airlines said yesterday. The new airline will operate under the Vueling brand and will be based in Barcelona. Iberia currently holds 20% in Clickair. Spain’s main airline plans to remain a shareholder in the combined carrier. Should its future shareholding exceed 30%, it will apply for a binding full takeover bid to be waived by the country’s stock market regulator. Both Vueling and Clickair have incurred large losses and have been discussing the combination since early this year.
