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.
Frankfurt Airport, one of Europe’s biggest hubs, is seeing a strong rebound in demand, both in passenger and cargo traffic. Passenger numbers were up 7% in June from the same 2009 month, and cargo volume jumped 28.8%, according to airport operator Fraport AG. Despite the temporary closure of European airspace in April as a result of the volcanic eruption in Iceland, total passenger numbers grew 1.4% in the first six months of the year to about 24.5 million.
Lufthansa CFO Stephan Gemkow said he is pleased with the group’s second-quarter performance. Gemkow told Reuters TV that “to the extent that a CFO can be optimistic, I’m optimistic.” According to Gemkow, the debt crisis in several European states, including Greece, has had no effects on demand at Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo is experiencing a “boom” and integration and turnaround of unprofitable subsidiaries BMI and Austrian Airways proceed according to plan. Lufthansa will publish its second-quarter results July 29.
Germany’s air transport industry, unions and associations on Friday issued a joint resolution against the planned €1 billion "eco-tax." The paper states that a total of 10,000 jobs are at risk if the federal government implements its plans next year. According to the airlines, about 5 million passengers could divert to airports outside of Germany to avoid higher fares. Germany plans to raise €1 billion from next year in the form of an eco-tax ahead of the introduction of the European emission trading scheme.
