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.
Turkish Airlines will increase its three weekly frequencies from Istanbul to Shanghai to five, beginning tomorrow, the carrier said yesterday. Due to the effects of the SARS pneumonia outbreak on traffic, flights were suspended from mid-May to mid-July and then restarted. The airline operates Airbus A340-300s on the route. -JF
TUI AG, Europe's largest travel group, will discuss possible cost-cutting measures for British charter carrier Britannia Airways at the next supervisory board meeting on Monday, according to a German press report. The report cited evidence from the TUI board's agenda, which allegedly includes decisions on how to make Britannia more cost-efficient. No further details were available, and TUI declined comment.
KLM shares rose as much as 16% in midday trading after the company hinted it might reach an alliance deal with Air France within three weeks. KLM was in an advanced stage of talks, a spokesman said. The two airlines are understood to be negotiating a share swap (DAILY, Aug. 20). The French state wants to reduce its 54.4% stake in Air France to about 20% by the end of this year and either sell it to the public or KLM (DAILY, Sept. 10). The Dutch carrier has repeatedly said it would make a decision on the alliance by yearend.
