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.
Rolls-Royce said yesterday it has successfully completed a blade containment test on the Trent 900 engine that will power the Airbus A380. Test engineers deliberately released a fan blade on a special rig at maximum speed by detonating an electrical charge at its root, and then held the blade safely in a titanium containment system that will surround the engine in flight.Test results "confirm all our expectations and underline the low-risk development of the Trent 900," said Ian Kinnear, director-Airbus programs. -JF
Lufthansa posted a better-than-expected EUR345 million (US$390 million) loss for the first six months of the year, backed by strong cost controls and a slow recovery in some of its key traffic areas. Because of the continuously difficult economic conditions in Germany, the airline nevertheless expects to post an operating loss for the year.
Austrian Airlines pilots strikes loom on the horizon as pilots caution they could walk off the job any time following failed negotiations with management over a new collective bargaining agreement (DAILY, Aug. 5). Unions were expected to inform their members of the failed talks last night and come up with an action plan. The move is a big -- and potentially life-threatening -- blow for Austrian.
