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.
Germany’s air traffic controllers plan to go on strike some time this week after suddenly deciding not to walk off their jobs Aug. 4, as originally planned. Air traffic control provider Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS) legally challenged the planned industrial action, and its request was approved by a local court. The GdF union challenged the decision, but decided late on Aug. 3 to cancel the strike because airlines would not have had time to prepare themselves.
Airline profits are showing the first year-on-year declines for eight quarters in the March-June period, according to IATA's latest Airlines Financial Monitor. The group cautions, however, that the estimate represents only a small sample of airlines that have already reported their results for the period. An initial analysis shows that Asian carriers suffered most, while European airlines improved. However, last year’s second-quarter results were hurt by the shutdown of European airspace following the outbreak of Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull.
Air traffic in Germany could be severely disrupted on Thursday now that air traffic controller union GdF has called for its members to engage in a countrywide, half-day strike. Industrial action could still be avoided, however, after ATC provider Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS) said the planned strike was illegal in its view and would therefore be brought in front of a German court today.
