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.
Lufthansa's passenger traffic was up 1.2% in the first six months of the year, a sign that recovery in European air travel is still slow. The carrier increased capacity 3.8%, leading to a 71.9% load factor, 1.9 points below last year's level. Europe and the transatlantic market grew 3.2 points and 6.5%, but Asia was down 8.9%. -JF
The European Commission cleared insurance guarantees given by nine governments to their respective airlines after the Sept. 11 attacks, saying aid packages in Spain, France, Greece, the U.K., the Netherlands, Finland, Ireland, Sweden and Denmark were legal. Private insurers refused to cover the risks following the terrorist attacks. -JF
Lufthansa increased its stake in Italian regional carrier Air Dolomiti to 98.8% by acquiring a 23.7% shareholding formerly owned by the carrier's founder, Alcide Leali. Additionally, an offer to other shareholders closed on June 27. Lufthansa plans to buy the remaining shares floated on the Milan stock exchange in a so-called squeeze-out. Air Dolomiti's stock will be delisted today. -JF
