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.
A group of KLM's Dutch shareholders filed a lawsuit seeking to extend the closing date of Air France's share offering for the Dutch carrier beyond May 3. The group wants the offer to be extended beyond May 6 in order to take into account KLM's annual results, which will be published that day. "Publication of annual figures less than three days after closing the offer period is unacceptable," the group stated. Air France and KLM said the group's position was "without any foundation."
Airbus plans to deliver up to 14 A380s in the first year of production, 2006, and will ramp up production to 30-35 units in 2007, according to Chief Operating Officer Gustav Humbert. Maximum production capacity for the A380 is 44-48 aircraft a year, Humbert said. Airbus will unveil the A380 final assembly line at Toulouse's Blagnac Airport late next week.
Malev Hungarian Airlines had to cancel 20 of today's 67 planned flights, after the ground workers union said it will stage a one-day strike. The union wants a 30% wage increase. Malev originally offered only 3.5%, but later increased the offer above the level of inflation. The unprofitable state-owned carrier recently formed a bilateral alliance with CSA Czech Airlines (DAILY, March 3) that it hopes will eventually lead to membership in the SkyTeam alliance. -JF
