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.
Boeing appears close to signing its first customer for airline passenger versions of the 747-8, but with the program moving from concept to design, some of its milestones appear to be slipping. First flight of the freighter version is now planned for January 2009, says Boeing 747 Vice President Dan Mooney. The event was planned for the last quarter of 2008, though a company official backtracked and acknowledged that 2009 seems more likely. No single program development is seen as causing the delay.
New airline business models and new aircraft technology are likely to force Europe's maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industry to retool its strategies and to invest in new skills and product offerings. That's the message that came across loud and clear at Aviation Week's MRO Europe 2006 in Amsterdam.
Germanwings is looking at more destinations in Eastern Europe to continue its aggressive expansion plans. The German low-fare airline would like to start services to Sofia, Bulgaria, and Bucharest, Romania, Managing Director Thomas Winkelmann said this week. The route launches, however, still hinge on government approvals, he cautioned.
