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.
Ryanair will write down the value of its stake in Aer Lingus in the “not too distant future,” CFO Howard Millar said yesterday. The airline bought a 29% stake in its rival at EUR2.50 a share, but the value has recently been down to below EUR2. Ryanair has been trying to buy Aer Lingus in a hostile takeover bid, but was blocked by Aer Lingus shareholders and the European Commission. Ryanair has appealed the decision.
Ruag Aerospace is relaunching the Dornier Do 228 regional and utility turboprop, which has been out of production since 1998, and plans to deliver the first Do 228 new generation in early 2010.
Consolidation in the German air transport market is gaining speed as Lufthansa and TUI negotiate a merger of their low-fare subsidiaries. Germanwings and TUIfly would form the second-biggest low-fare carrier in the country behind hybrid Air Berlin. The parent companies have been talking behind the scenes for some weeks and a deal is likely soon, once some open questions are resolved. The resulting carrier would remain under the Germanwings umbrella, say sources close to the talks.
