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.
Competition authorities in Austria and Germany approved Etihad Airways’ investment in Air Berlin. Last month, Etihad revealed plans to acquire a 29.21% stake in Air Berlin, making it the German carrier’s largest shareholder. The two carriers have put in place a reciprocal frequent flyer program agreement and plan to begin code-sharing following regulatory approval. The cooperation also includes aircraft maintenance in Duesseldorf and Abu Dhabi. Air Berlin, which had been flying from Berlin to Dubai, is moving that service to Abu Dhabi to enable the link.
Lufthansa Chairman Juergen Weber says the group should initiate much closer integration between its various airlines to take advantage of potential benefits much more aggressively. Weber, who was CEO until 2004, urged executives at a senior management meeting not to engage in fights between those who support more central control and those in favor of keeping responsibilities local.
Mark Hiller has been named CEO of aircraft seat manufacturer Recaro, succeeding Axel Kahsnitz, who will leave the company in April. Recaro says Kahsnitz is stepping down to pursue other professional opportunities. The company’s executive board will be made up of Hiller, who was chief operating officer, and Andreas Lindemann, who was named chief sales officer. Lindemann was CFO, a function that he will retain.
