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.
Etihad Airways is buying a 40% stake in Air Seychelles. The Abu Dhabi-based carrier is investing $20 million in the airline and giving the carrier a $25 million loan. Air Seychelles also is receiving a $20 million capital infusion from the Seychelles government. The deal includes a five-year management contract and a state official says the new shareholder will name a new CEO and CFO.
Gulf Air and the Bahraini government next week will decide on a restructuring plan that will downsize the national legacy carrier and possibly subject it to even more drastic measures, according to local media reports.
The European Commission opened three separate investigations into public financing of regional airports in Germany and Sweden. The move could have serious ramifications for the business model of Ryanair if the EC finds that airports have been funded in contravention of the Market Economy Investor Principle (MEIP). States or communities are allowed to support companies they own, but only to the extent that a private investor would do so.
