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, in what observers consider an unusual step, bought a 4.95% stake in airport operator Fraport AG and plans to invest in German ATC provider Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS) upon its privatization next year. Lufthansa acquired the Fraport stake last week, shortly after the German government announced it was selling its 18.2% stake in the operator of Frankfurt Airport (DAILY, Oct. 28).
Germany's federal aviation authority Luftfahrtbundesamt (LBA) yesterday withdrew Aero Flight's operating certificate, effectively grounding the airline as of today. LBA said Aero Flight no longer fulfills federal legal requirements. The airline has been operating as a charter carrier since late 2003 as the successor of now defunct Aero Lloyd. It has been looking for an investor and was rumored to be near bankruptcy, an argument that is also supported by the LBA decision.
Austrian Airlines is facing uncertain times, after the airline said it expects a big loss for 2005 and CEO Vagn Soerensen told the board he will not extend his contract beyond next year. Soerensen, a 45-year-old former SAS Group executive, said the reasons for his decision were of a purely private nature. After 20 years abroad, he wants to return to his home country, Denmark, with his family.
