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.
Lufthansa is changing its baggage rules in an effort to make the system less complex, it says, by charging for the number of bags instead of weight only. Effective June 1, it will allow only one piece of checked baggage free of charge for economy class, which can weigh up to 23 kg. The same system will apply to fully owned subsidiary Austrian Airlines. The airline plans to charge for the second bag; the fee will be €50 ($70.55) for domestic and European flights and €150 for long-haul services.
The impending privatization of TAP Portugal is the next action in the global consolidation trend and could well lead to one of the first intercontinental takeovers. The outcome will also have broader implications on the alliance landscape.
Middle Eastern carriers are seeing significant effects from political unrest on air travel demand and fuel costs, but most have no plans to change their ambitious growth plans. Further large-scale aircraft orders are expected later this year.
