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.
Virgin Atlantic Airways reported a 26% improvement in passenger numbers for its Upper Class premium cabin for the financial year ended Feb. 28. The airline said the growth was due to a 5% increase in capacity and the partial recovery of the general business travel market, but also "a market share shift to Virgin Atlantic from rival airlines following the launch and roll-out of the award-winning Upper Class Suite." The airline has retrofitted its Boeing 747-400s and Airbus A340-600s and is upgrading the A340-300 fleet. -JF
Airbus A380 suppliers expect to hear from Airbus next week about the effects of the entry into service delay of the new aircraft, reports Walter Stephan, CEO of Fischer Advanced Composite Components (FACC). Stephan says Airbus has promised to give its suppliers more information in the coming days. It is understood that Airbus will keep the originally planned production rate, but that it has simply shifted the schedule backwards. Airbus had to admit that the A380 entry into service is up to six months later than expected (DAILY, June 1).
A German regional court this week approved Lufthansa's plans to build a four-bay hangar for Airbus A380 maintenance work at its home base in Frankfurt. The court rejected claims from environmental groups that wanted to stop the project. Airport operator Fraport plans to begin construction in the fall in time for a 2007 hangar opening. The hangar will be big enough for four A380s or six Boeing 747-400s. It will be built in the southern part of the airport. -JF
