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.
South African Airways (SAA) will likely select a new CEO by the end of January, acting CEO Chris Smyth told The DAILY on the sidelines of the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB) meeting this week in Brussels. Smyth says he is not certain whether he could also be elected. He was appointed to his current post on an interim basis after his predecessor, Khaya Ngqula, was forced to step down over an alleged bribery scandal.
Star Alliance’s new corporate governance scheme, which becomes effective Jan. 1, will establish three membership levels featuring differing degrees of rights and obligations. Under the new structure approved last summer, top-tier members have to participate in basically all of the alliance’s initiatives while the lower levels are allowed to take part only in areas and projects that are of particular interest to them. Members can switch their status on an annual basis if they wish.
