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.
BMI last week announced sharp cuts to its network, the fleet and staff in a dramatic effort to return the airline to profitability. The carrier, now fully owned by Lufthansa, will cut around 600 of the 4,470 jobs as it downsizes its operations. BMI is also taking out nine of the 39 aircraft in its fleet and discontinues several unprofitable routes. With the return of two Airbus A330-200s to the lessor, the airline effectively ceases offering long-haul flights with the exception of some medium- to long-haul segments in the Middle East.
Unlike most other international airlines, Emirates continued to grow in spite of the global economic downturn. In the first six months of its financial year, 2009-10, which ended Sept. 30, passenger numbers grew by 18%.
British Airways’ planned merger with Iberia to form Europe’s third-largest airline block is being largely well received, but there is concern the carriers’ short-term problems outweigh the long-term benefits. The promise of €400 million ($596 million) in annual savings is paltry when compared with the high losses both airlines have been suffering of late. The savings are also far less than Air France and KLM promised to generate by combining their operations, and they still leave BA-Iberia behind its main European network rivals in size.
