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.
FlyDubai is setting up its own cargo division. FlyDubai Cargo, which will become operational Jan. 1, aims to market belly space on the Dubai-based, low-fare airline. CEO Gaith al-Gaith says all 46 of the airline’s destinations will be offered and FlyDubai will also add further markets through interline agreements. The carrier expects to carry 1,500 tons of cargo per month initially. Shipments will be transported using electronic documents, rather than paper air waybills.
Lufthansa plans to launch another cost-savings program next year, CEO Christoph Franz says in the airline’s staff newspaper, Lufthanseat. “While we will manage to close the year with a positive operating result, it will be well below the figure we require in order to secure our company and our jobs in the future,” Franz said.
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has unveiled more details about its route rationalization plan, a move to cut unprofitable routes, so it can improve its financial prospects. The airline says that in January and February it will axe seven international routes, including Rome, Buenos Aires, Dubai and both Johannesburg and Cape Town, representing almost 12% of its total passenger capacity. MAS underwent a management shake-up early this year in which company outsider Ahmad Jauhari Yahya was appointed CEO and charged with turning the carrier around.
