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 Austrian Airlines Group has placed an order for one additional Boeing 737-800. The aircraft will be delivered in July 2005 and will be operated by the group's fully owned subsidiary Lauda Air. Lauda focuses on leisure flying and will unify its fleet by the end of 2005, operating eight 737-800s in a 184-seat layout. The airline will take delivery of one previously ordered 737-800 in April next year and phase out two -400s in October 2004 and June 2005. Its last 737-300 will leave the fleet in winter 2005.
Virgin Atlantic Airways is mulling setting up an airline in Nigeria. "We have been approached by the Nigerian government with a view to establishing a new airline," a Virgin spokesman said yesterday. The carrier also said talks were "very active." The plan pitched to Virgin calls for setting up the Nigerian venture together with additional investors. Virgin Atlantic has operated a daily flight to Nigerian capital Lagos since 2001 and also serves Port Harcourt twice weekly.
Swiss's traffic figures for the first six months show the carrier has been unable to capitalize on a modest travel recovery, and some analysts say the climate for its rescue has significantly deteriorated,. "The seat load factor numbers are disappointing to us, showing that Swiss is benefiting less than hoped for from the improved economic climate," Zuercher Kantonalbank's Patrick Schwendimann wrote in a note to investors. "That means the chances for a turnaround have been reduced," he said, cutting the Swiss rating from market weight to underweight.
