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.
Bahrain’s national carrier Gulf Air placed a big Airbus order, with plans to more than double its fleet during the next five years. The airline ordered 15 A320s and 20 A330-300s, which will be used partly for replacement but mostly to expand capacity. The airline currently operates ten A320s, six A330-200s and nine A340-300s. The fleet is to expand to around 55 aircraft within the next five years, CEO Bjoern Naef said.
The Airbus A350XWB is heavier than targeted, says a German press report. Financial daily Handelsblatt reported that the current A350XWB weight exceeds targets by eight tons. Airbus confirmed the A350 is currently overweight but said steps are being taken to cut the weight and fulfill performance guarantees to customers.
Slovak low-fare airline Sky Europe is opening a fourth base in Kosice, Slovakia. The airline will base one of its 15 Boeing 737s there and add a route to Manchester to five routes already operated from the airport. Bratislava-based Sky Europe has been struggling financially for some time and recently cut capacity at Vienna airport, one of its other three bases. In Vienna, Austrian Airlines is aggressively fighting the carrier on prices, much like local low-fare rival FlyNiki
