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.
German low-fare airline Air Berlin plans to sell 300,000 tickets at retail discounter Penny on June 30, the carrier said yesterday. Tickets will be sold for EUR29 (US$35) and can be used as vouchers for flights worth EUR79 (US$96), including fuel surcharges. In parallel, Air Berlin is offering another 100,000 tickets in travel agencies and on its web site. Last month, German rail drew massive travel agency opposition to a similar initiative when it offered tickets for EUR49 but did not include travel agencies. -JF
Lufthansa last week grounded its Airbus A321 fleet to perform checks on their engine pilons. The airline confirmed that it kept 25 A321s on the ground last Thursday and had to delay and cancel a significant number of flights. The checks are understood to be related to higher engine thrust ratings implemented that require the pylon/engine attachment to be checked. Lufthansa said it found no faults and that it could have applied for a five-day grace period. -JF
Lufthansa subsidiary Germanwings is expanding its Airbus narrowbody fleet with a firm order for 18 A319s plus 12 options. Germanwings operates 15 A319s and five A320s, most of them sourced through Lufthansa, which did not need the aircraft temporarily on its European and domestic network.
