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.
Fraport AG plans to start negotiations with unions on cost-cutting opportunities next week, as the company prepares for the renewal of a service contract with its prime customer Lufthansa. Frankfurt's airport operator did not disclose the financial target, but is faced with the airline's demand to identify part of a EUR300 million savings program with third-party suppliers. -JF
Swiss Finance Minister Hans-Rudolf Merz said yesterday that Swiss International Air Lines "needs a strong partner," just days after the airline announced another round of cost-cutting and lay-offs.
Airbus asked A330 and A340 operators to inspect wings for tiny cracks near certain fasteners, after Lufthansa discovered such cracks on some of its aircraft. Airbus COO Gustav Humbert, however, said the cracks were not dramatic and there was no reason to ground aircraft. French aviation authority DGAC supported the Airbus proposal to have the aircraft inspected when the next regular maintenance is due.
