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 majority shareholders of Amadeus Global Travel Solutions have picked private equity firms Cinven and BC Partners to become investors in the company. Cinven and BC Partners were selected over Carlyle Group and Citigroup Venture Capital (CVC), who also submitted bids and were thought to have joined forces, too (DAILY, Jan. 11).
Swiss shrank its flying operations significantly in 2004, continuing restructuring efforts as traffic decreased by 15% on 17.9% less capacity. The airline's load factor, however, improved 2.5 points to 74.9%. The capacity cuts affected both the long-haul and the European program, with Swiss reducing long-haul capacity by 18.1% and its European offering by 17.4%. The airline has recorded heavy losses since its inception in early 2002 and expects that despite earlier goals it will not make a profit in 2004.
Airbus plans to deliver 350-360 aircraft in 2005, a sharp jump from last year's production level which, if implemented, would mean the European manufacturer would again deliver more aircraft than rival Boeing. "We are very confident in the long-expected growth of the air travel industry, which needs seats to cope with the ever-increasing demand for air transportation," Airbus President and CEO Noel Forgeard said at the annual Airbus press conference in Paris.
