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.
Michael A. Taverna (Paris), Jens Flottau (Frankfurt)
The Middle East is playing a lead role in the drive to make satellite-based inflight Internet and phone service available to airline passengers—a trend that is likely to mushroom following Lufthansa’s recent decision to opt for onboard broadband.
Hochtief plans to launch an initial public offering (IPO) for its airport and road subsidiary Hochtief Concessions before the end of the year. The German construction group wants to keep a majority stake in the company, however. Analysts estimate a 49% stake in Concessions could be worth around €900 million (US$1.3 billion). Hochtief operates or partially owns airports in Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Athens, Tirana, Sydney and Budapest.
BMI’s low-fare affiliate BMIbaby plans significant cuts to its network and fleet in an effort to trim the losses incurred in the ongoing downturn. BMIbaby will take five of its 17 Boeing 737s out of service and cut up to 160 positions. The network reductions will affect the bases in Birmingham, Manchester and Cardiff, although the airline declined to specify which routes are affected.
