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, Europe's third-largest airline, hopes to cut its unit costs in the European network by 20% in the medium term. Lufthansa management board member Stefan Lauer late last week told an industry conference in Frankfurt the airline would have to find ways to become more efficient and cost-effective in the short-haul operation. A company spokesman yesterday confirmed the 20% figure as a target, though the exact potential was still being calculated.
Spain's second largest scheduled airline, Spanair -- who will officially become a Star Alliance member today -- plans to stick to its ambitious growth plans, despite the industry slump. The carrier will offer 19% more capacity in the summer timetable, according to Gonzalo Pascual, president and chairman of the board. Pascual said, "The plan up to now is to keep all the orders" for additional aircraft: Spanair has ordered 45 Airbus A320 series aircraft and already operates 16. It also has 32 MD-80s and four Boeing 717s in the fleet.
With the prospect of a joint Snecma-Finmeccanica bid fading fast, the play for FiatAvio--the engine and aerospace arm of the Fiat group--is now shifting elsewhere, as a new bid team has emerged.
