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.
Lufthansa has grounded four Airbus A300-600s to reduce its capacity in the current winter timetable. The aircraft are currently parked at Dresden Airport. The airline is considering additional measures and may pull three A340-300s from long-haul services. Officials say no decision has been made. Lufthansa is taking delivery of 52 aircraft next year, but plans to phase out 52 older jets to avoid adding new capacity to the market.
Iberia CEO Fernando Conte does not see a three-way merger among his company, British Airways and Qantas as a realistic goal. Conte told attendees of an Aviation Club meeting in London that it would be “too complex” for British Airways to pursue two mergers at the same time, in effect leaving BA CEO Willie Walsh to choose between Iberia and Qantas as his carrier’s future merger partner.
Lufthansa’s supervisory board yesterday waved through the acquisition of Austrian Airlines. Lufthansa will initially buy the 41.5% stake now owned by Austria’s state holding company OEIAG, but plans to take full control soon.
