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.
Aer Lingus is in talks with Airbus and Boeing to replace its short-haul fleet. The Irish company said it is looking at the Boeing 737-800 and Airbus A320. The carrier currently operates 27 aircraft in its European system, eight 737-500s, three 737-400s, four A320s, six A321s and six BAe-146s. -JF
Lufthansa and its pilots union, Vereinigung Cockpit, have agreed on work time reductions that will allow the carrier to reduce its short-term labor expenses. The airline's 4,000 pilots will take an extra four days of unpaid vacation within the next three months. The days are being deducted from vacation time in future years. The airline already introduced a 35- hour working week from ground staff and many in administration.
The hub-and-spoke model will continue to exist but will have to be modified and downsized to survive, senior executives at last week's Phoenix Aviation Symposium agreed. "The weaker hubs will disappear," American Trans Air Chairman George Mikelsons said. "Memphis, Cleveland and Cincinnati have to go," as unprofitable part-operations become more unaffordable in the current economic climate.
