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.
Critical weeks lie ahead for EADS and its aircraft maker Airbus. The European aerospace giant's long-term fortunes have much resting on how a number of political, labor and industrial issues are resolved this summer.
Brazilian airline TAM is moving closer to becoming a member of Star Alliance, say industry sources, who tell The DAILY the carrier is expected to sign code-sharing agreements with several Star Alliance members in the next few weeks; cooperating with individual members is a prerequisite for eventually joining the group. TAM last month announced a code-sharing deal with Portuguese carrier TAP, under which TAM will put its code on all of TAP's flights between Portugal and Brazil, while TAP will code share on some domestic TAM flights.
Etihad Airways plans to defer deliveries of its Airbus A380s. "You need the maturity to absorb that kind of aircraft," CEO James Hogan told The DAILY. "For us, it's huge step." Hogan confirmed that "we are in discussions with Airbus at the moment in regards to whether we take it or defer it." But Etihad does not consider canceling its order: "At a given time, we need that type of aircraft." The Abu Dhabi-based carrier has a firm order for four aircraft. -JF
