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.
U.K.-based GKN Aerospace has agreed to buy engine specialist Volvo Aero for $987 million, ending months of speculation over the future of the Swedish aerospace company. Among others, MTU Aero Engines and the Carlyle Group—an investment company—are understood to have been interested in Volvo Aero, but pulled out of the bidding. Volvo Aero is currently part of the broader Volvo Group.
African low-cost startup Fastjet has selected the Airbus A319 as its initial aircraft type, with plans to take delivery of the first aircraft in September or October and build to a fleet of five within its first six months. Fastjet is being established by African investment conglomerate Lonrho and Stelios Haji-Ioannou’s Easy Group. Lonrho holds a 73.3% in Rubicon Diversified Investments, the structure behind Fastjet, while EasyJet’s founder has a 5% stake. Haji-Ioannou also will provide consulting and management services as well as the Fastjet brand.
Diehl Group Chairman Thomas Diehl says the company “underestimated” the adverse financial effect of design changes in Airbus’ A350 development program, noting, for example, that the size of baggage bins has been changed several times.
