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.
MRO provider SR Technics is planning more strategic acquisitions and wants to be ready for an initial public offering (IPO) in the next 12-18 months, SR Technics Chairman Frank Turner told journalists on the sidelines of the MRO Europe conference in Berlin. Turner said the acquisitions could basically be made anywhere, but the company has a focus on the U.S., India and China as big or strongly growing markets.
Air Berlin and Niki this week took delivery of their first Airbus A320s, celebrating the event with a ceremony in Berlin. Air Berlin placed a firm order for 60 aircraft, while Niki is taking 10. Niki is an Austrian low-fare airline launched by former Formula 1-champion Niki Lauda. -JF
German charter carrier Aero Flight will say on Friday who is behind a European consortium that is buying the airline, a company spokesman told The DAILY this week. The group could be linked to Saarbruecken-based Cirrus Airlines, although Cirrus CEO Gerd Brandecker denied any interest in Aero Flight. Aero Flight was launched in late 2003 as the successor of bankrupt Aero Lloyd and operates a fleet of six Airbus A320 and A321s, mainly to leisure destinations. The company has been known to be in dire financial straits for months. -JF
