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.
The German federal government plans to charge up to €26 ($33.57) per trip under the ticket tax it expects to introduce in 2011. According to draft legislation obtained by The DAILY, the proposed charge would be €26 for long-haul flights and €13 for short- and medium-haul services. The plans are drawing fierce opposition from airlines, airports, associations and trade unions alike. The airlines say a total of 10,000 jobs are at risk if the tax is introduced and about 5 million passengers could switch their itineraries to airports in neighboring countries.
Greek air traffic controllers are planning a four-hour strike on Thursday, suspending air traffic control services from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aegean Airlines, the country's main airline, has so far canceled nine flights and postponed an additional 24 services. The action by the Greek Air Traffic Controllers Association is an effort to support other unions in their protest against proposed changes to state pensions that are aimed at consolidating the country's budget.
The French government may approve of a fourth search mission for the cockpit voice and flight data recorders of Air France Flight 447. Secretary of State for Transport Dominique Bussereau said on Tuesday that an analysis was performed over the summer that is intended to prove the viability of another effort and that a decision could be made in the fall.
