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.
British Airways strongly opposes a EUR400 million loan its competitor Alitalia is expected to receive in the fall from the Italian government. CEO Rod Eddington, in a letter, urged Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio to take a firm stance on the matter. Achieving a corporate turnaround without state aid "may be politically difficult and unwelcome in Italy and it may cause problems with the unions, but any solution which doesn't tackle the fundamental problems would only be a short-term fix," Eddington said.
Iberia and British Airways will start a joint venture sharing revenues equally on the London-Barcelona route in the winter timetable. The move comes after receipt of European Commission clearance to cooperate on routes between Spain and the U.K. for six years. According to Iberia, additional routes are likely to be included in the deal.
Swiss International Air Lines' survival as an independent carrier is in question yet again following management's decision to end negotiations to join British Airways' Oneworld. Earlier this month, the integration of frequent-flier programs proved to be a stumbling point. Swiss Chairman Pieter Bouw said the airline would not disclose proprietary, competition-sensitive passenger data, even to a would-be alliance partner. The role that Zurich, Swiss' main hub, would play within the Oneworld alliance was another point of contention.
