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.
The financial difficulties airlines are suffering are being felt by leasing firms, which are seeing more carriers late on payments. There is, however, some disagreement among lessors whether the worst is over or yet to come.
Lufthansa on Thursday finally took control of Austrian Airlines, closing a deal that has been pending for nine months. Following all European Commission approvals, the airline bought a share of more than 90% of Austrian and is expected to take over the remaining shares from small stockholders as a result of a squeeze-out process. Depending on Austrian’s financial performance, the deal could cost Lufthansa up to €362 million (US$514 million).
