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.
Robert Wall (Paris), Jens Flottau (Frankfurt), Michael A. Taverna (Paris)
Europe’s efforts to stabilize the Airbus Military A400M development and production program are far from finalized even though industry and the seven countries backing the program have agreed on a new financing scheme to cover several billion euros in cost overruns. There are still many difficult issues to be resolved, including exactly how many airlifters each country is buying, how to allocate €1.5 billion ($2 billion) in export levy facilities, and how to determine legal liabilities between the prime contractor and its suppliers.
Several important Lufthansa subsidiaries will continue to make losses in 2010 even though the airline is “cautiously optimistic” about its outlook. The group predicted that Lufthansa Cargo will only return to profitability next year, and Austrian and BMI will lose money until at least 2012. Also, the start of the Lufthansa Italia affiliate based in Milan Malpensa Airport has been less successful than expected.
Europe’s air transport sector is facing another serious dispute over allegedly illegal state aid, after financially struggling Malev Hungarian Airlines was bought by the government. The move effectively saved Malev from collapse as its desperate financial situation already made funding ongoing operations all but impossible. Several competitors, among them low-fare carrier Wizz Air, have reportedly filed complaints with the European Commission about the government bailout.
