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.
The Association of European Airlines (AEA) expects its members to post losses of up to $2.5 billion (US$ 2.9 billion) in 2003, a result of the traffic slump. "At this stage of the year, we have a range of outcomes from bad to approaching the worst ever," AEA Secretary General Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus said. In the second week of May, international traffic was down 9.5%, with Asia feeling the effects of the SARS pneumonia, which reduced traffic 31%. North Atlantic traffic was down 4.5%, while intra-European demand stood at 7.9% less than last year. -JF
EasyJet, Europe's biggest low-fare airline, said it plans to start hedging its fuel costs and exposure against fluctuations in the dollar exchange rate. EasyJet was one of the few European carriers without a hedging policy. Positions would be built up over the next few months, the company reported. Analysts noted the decision was somewhat late because fuel prices are already declining after the Iraq war, but easyJet shares nevertheless were up 1.8% in afternoon trading. -JF
Swiss International Air Lines posted a CHF200 million (US$156 million) net loss for the first quarter of 2003 and reported it will cut its fleet, network and work force further to cope with deteriorating economics. The airline managed sales of CHF1.04 billion (US$810 million), roughly in line with analysts' expectations. Swiss shares dropped 7% in afternoon trading, after rising 21% on Monday following reports about a possible takeover.
