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 is looking at bidding for rival BMI if BMI Chairman Michael Bishop sells his stake, U.K. news reports said yesterday. The Times said BA would get access to valuable slots at London Heathrow Airport, where BMI has about a 13% share. That compares with 40% held by its bigger rival. BA did not comment, while BMI said it was not up for sale.
Virgin Atlantic and All Nippon Airways will deepening an existing cooperation agreement by offering combination fares in premium economy and business class, allowing passengers to use both airlines on a single roundtrip. The fares were previously available only in economy. Also, premium economy will be included in the around-the-world fare plan that both carriers introduced in September 2006. ANA is a member of Star Alliance. While Virgin Atlantic has no alliance ties, it is 49% owned by Singapore Airlines. -JF
German low-fare carrier Germanwings was forced to delay the March 26 start of services from Cologne/Bonn to Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina because it failed to receive the necessary traffic rights in time. Bosnia and Herzegovina signed up for the European common aviation market last year but has yet to implement the deal. Germanwings said it hopes "free market competition will eventually prevail in this part of Europe." The carrier plans to start the flights once it receives regulatory approval. -JF
