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.
Swiss and SR Technics this week said they agreed on a new long-term maintenance contract for the Airbus A320, A330 and A340 fleet, following a lengthy dispute over cost reductions. The airline said the new contract ensured significant cost savings and made a valuable contribution to its turnaround process. In return for agreeing to lower maintenance fees, the airline extended the contract by three years until 2012.
London-based investment firm 3i this week announced the acquisition of ground-handling specialist Aviapartner. The company is investing EUR160 million (US$193 million) in Aviapartner, which plans to expand heavily in Central and Eastern Europe as airlines continue to outsource ground-handling work and the airport ground-handling market is liberalized in the European Union. Aviapartner employs about 5,000 staff and operates at 31 airports in five European countries.
Ryanair this week picked Pisa as its third base in Italy after Rome Ciampino and Bergamo. The airline said it will base two aircraft at the airport and start three new routes from Pisa -- to Dublin; Alghero, Italy, and Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Service to Dublin will launch Oct. 10, while flights to Alghero and Eindhoven will start on Jan. 12. Ryanair wants to carry 1.2 million passengers on the new routes in the first full year of operations. Pisa is a major European tourism destination in the popular Tuscany region. -JF
