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.
Lufthansa posted an operating profit of EUR845 million (US$1.1 billion) last year, up from EUR577 million a year earlier. Sales rose 9% to EUR19.8 billion (US$26 billion), the airline said in a regulatory filing. Lufthansa plans to propose a dividend of EUR0.70 per share, up from EUR0.50 in 2005. The company will disclose its detailed financial results on March 8. -JF
The Polish Treasury Ministry last week threatened to call an extraordinary board meeting for LOT Polish Airlines, after the board named Marek Mazur the airline's new CEO. The ministry said Mazur has not been on the shortlist of candidates and the proceeding may have infringed competition law.
Air France/KLM's third-quarter profit tripled as Europe's biggest airline benefited from strong demand, particularly on its Asian and North Atlantic routes. Net income increased to EUR229 million (US$301 million) from EUR77 million a year earlier. Sales were up 5.9% to EUR5.75 billion (US$7.55 billion). The airline stated that it expects "very strong results" for the full year. The company saw yields rise by more than 4%, while costs remained essentially flat.
