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 European Commission (EC) opened an in-depth investigation into €130 million ($170 million) in restructuring aid for Air Malta. In a statement yesterday, the EC says that it has “doubts whether the restructuring plan complies” with European guidelines regarding admissible state aid.
The Turkish Airlines board of directors approved exploratory preparations for the acquisition of LOT Polish Airlines, according to a filing with the Istanbul stock exchange. An official in the Polish treasury confirmed that the government has been in touch regarding a potential sale.
German regional carrier Cirrus Airlines filed for bankruptcy Jan. 23 after having ceased flight operations late last week. Germany’s civil aviation authority, Luftfahrtbundesamt, suspended the carrier’s air operator’s certificate. Cirrus said in a statement that flight operations will remain suspended. The airline has a fleet of eight Dornier 328s and one Embraer 170. It has been operating its own scheduled services and some wet-lease flights on behalf of other carriers, including Lufthansa.
