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.
The Lufthansa Group on Friday agreed not to sell the German operations of LSG SkyChefs in the next three years after the catering subsidiary reached a deal with union Ver.di on substantial cost cuts. As part of the deal, LSG will not lay off workers until 2010, since labor costs are now being cut by 10%. New hires in Germany, however, will be paid up to 35% less than previously, LSG said.
Lufthansa on Sept. 9 took delivery of its ninth Airbus A330-300, the 4,000th Airbus built. The aircraft is part of an order for 10 -- the last A330 will arrive at the airline in November. The aircraft are used mainly on North Atlantic and African routes.
Association of European Airlines (AEA) member carriers saw traffic grow 7% overall in July, the association said this week. Asian routes continue to be the strongest growth segment, up 13%, with intra-European travel up 6.5%. The North Atlantic routes developed at a slower pace with a 2.2% increase. "While the industry struggles with the exorbitant cost of fuel, the market at least is continuing to deliver a resounding vote of confidence in air transport," AEA Secretary General Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus said. -JF
