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.
Norwegian Air Shuttle signed a letter of intent with Icelandair to buy three Boeing 787-8s that Icelandair ordered in 2005. Two of the aircraft are due for delivery in the first half of 2013, with the third to arrive in early 2015. Norwegian, now a short-haul, low-cost airline, plans to enter the long-haul, low-cost market using the 787s. It has agreed to lease two further aircraft. Icelandair’s 2005 order was for five 787-8s; the airline therefore has a single aircraft on order for its own use, but it is unclear if it still plans to operate it.
Lufthansa will shut down affiliate Lufthansa Italia after less than three years and massive losses. The Lufthansa Italia brand will be discontinued in October and the subsidiary’s fleet will be reallocated throughout the Lufthansa group, the German carrier said in a statement. Lufthansa Italia currently has a fleet of eight Airbus A319s, but it operated up to 12 aircraft in its short history.
Ryanair is taking drastic action to counter rising fuel costs in the coming winter and intends temporarily to ground 80 aircraft, almost one-third of its current fleet. The reduction will reduce capacity in the second half of this year by 4% from reduced flying last winter, when it grounded about 40 aircraft. The move, announced on May 23, is a first for Ryanair, which has not stopped growing since relaunching as a low-fare airline in 1990. Upon release of this news, Ryanair’s shares plunged by more than 9% in morning trading.
