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.
In a surprise move, Lufthansa plans to get rid of travel agency commissions in Germany in September. Europe's third-largest airline will move to a system of net fares as opposed to the current fares including commissions. Agencies would be free to add charges for their services that they would receive directly from customers.
Insolvent German charter carrier Aero Lloyd said it got a firm promise from a future investor and hopes to start flying again in March or April. The carrier plans to resume services with seven or eight aircraft, if Bogomir Gradisnik sticks to his promise and takes over the company. Gradisnik was a shareholder in the company during the late 1990s, and a company spokesman reported that a deal is to be signed within days.
Europe's low-fare airlines plan to form an organization that will represent their interests versus the governments and the European Commission. The planned European Low-Fare Airline Association (ELFAA) is likely to comprise initially Ryanair, Hapag-Lloyd Express, Volare Web, Sky Europe and Sterling Airways. ELFAA would be the equivalent of the Association of European Airlines, which represents traditional major carriers. Additional details have not yet been disclosed. -JF
