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.
Bernard Gustin, co-CEO of Brussels Airlines, has been elected chairman of the Association of European Airlines (AEA). He succeeds Virgin Atlantic CEO Steve Ridgway, who headed the organization in 2011. “Our focus for the coming 12 months will be on removing inefficiency from the system and driving external costs down. As a key priority, we urgently need member states to deliver on their Single European Sky promises,” Gustin says. But as we enter 2012, the political focus is sadly dominated by tensions over aviation’s inclusion in the EU Emissions Trading System.
Etihad Airways reduced its order for Airbus A350-1000s by six aircraft. Airbus lists 19 firm orders for the type from Etihad, down from 25 the airline originally ordered. The Abu Dhabi-based carrier stated that the 25 options and purchase rights it holds in addition to the firm order will remain in place and will “no doubt play a crucial role in the airline’s growth.” Etihad could not immediately be reached for further comment.
Airlines are becoming seriously concerned about their profitability, according to the latest airline business confidence index compiled by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). In the survey, 63% of respondents reported a decline in profitability in the past three months, and 52% of them expect profits to be down next year as well. IATA says that report is “concurrent with the expected weak economic backdrop.”
