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 Italian government this week appointed Carlo Rinaldini as the administrator for leisure carrier Volare and tasked him with saving the airline and its 1,400 jobs. Volare ceased flight operations almost two weeks ago after it found itself unable to make lease payments; it left thousands of passengers stranded (DAILY, Nov. 29). Volare has since filed for insolvency. The airline operates 24 aircraft, 21 of them in a low-fare European network. -JF
German regional and executive charter operator Cirrus Group yesterday bought Augsburg Airways in a surprise move that sees two of Germany's biggest regionals join forces. The transaction, effective Dec. 1, makes Cirrus the largest independent regional carrier in the country. The combined company will have a fleet of 45 aircraft. Its annual sales total about EUR150 million, and the group employs some 1,000 staff. Cirrus is based at Saarbrucken Airport, about 100 miles west of Frankfurt.
