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 Czech government wants to sell 91.5% of national carrier CSA Czech Airlines. The sale process is planned to be completed by September and follows similar moves in Hungary and Austria, where former national carriers Malev and Austrian were sold last year. A minority stake in LOT Polish Airlines will be on the market later this year.
Lithuanian national carrier FlyLAL stopped flying late last week as a result of its deteriorating financial situation. The airline claims that a new investor, SCH Swiss Capital Holdings AG, did not fulfill its commitments of recapitalizing the airline in time to rescue it from an imminent collapse. FlyLAL says it plans to terminate the contract with Swiss Capital Holdings. In order not to burn more money, management decided to ground FlyLAL’s aircraft. The company will file for bankruptcy in the coming days if no additional funds are found.
Frankfurt’s international airport has been cleared for expansion by Hesse’s Administrative Supreme Court. The airport can soon begin to build a fourth runway north of the current airport perimeter with an opening date of 2012. But Fraport and main operator Lufthansa also have to deal with the court’s preliminary statement that the planned night flight restrictions are not far-reaching enough.
