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.
British Airways, looking to take advantage of open-skies agreement between the European Union and the U.S., is considering an all-premium traffic operation from points in the EU to the U.S. BA would equip aircraft with a premium economy and business-class cabin. The airline recently applied for rights to operate from EU points to the U.S. once the open-skies agreement is in place.
Former Sterling Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Stefan Vilner was named CEO of newly setup executive jet provider JetBird. JetBird is one of a handful of startups planning to enter the evolving air taxi market. Vilner joins the company roughly two years before JetBird will take delivery of its first aircraft -- it has placed an order for 100 Embraer Phenoms.
Royal Jordanian Airlines placed an order for two Boeing 787-8s, CEO Samer Majali said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum for the Middle East in Jordan. He plans to order two more of the type before yearend and lease eight 787s. Royal Jordanian, a member of the oneworld alliance since earlier this year, is using the 787 as a replacement for its Airbus A310s and A340-300s. -JF
