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.
Although they are trying to adapt to the rapidly evolving--and divergent--needs of full-service network carriers and low-fare operators, Europe's airports are underfunded, face serious opposition from environmentalists and must contend with bottlenecks of passengers wending their way through security checkpoints in crowded terminals.
Lufthansa German Airlines will not reach its planned staff cost-cutting target this year due to longer-than-expected negotiations with pilots and other employee groups.
Lufthansa, backed by strong expansion of its intercontinental network and stable yields, posted a profit in the first nine months of 2004 and stuck to its profit forecast for the full year. Four of the group's six business units were profitable in the period, while catering unit LSG SkyChefs and tourism arm Thomas Cook AG continued to post significant losses. With the airline in strong financial shape -- its liquidity exceeds total debt by EUR791 million (US$1 billion) -- negotiations with unions over staff cost cuts continue to be a major challenge.
