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.
A severe shortage in aircraft delivery financing is threatening to leave Airbus and Boeing stranded with perhaps 200 “white-tail” aircraft they can’t place with customers. The aircraft financing crisis comes on top of fears by analysts that 20-30% of Airbus and Boeing backlogs may be at risk as airlines go bust. Exacerbating the situation is that the leasing sector—which both aircraft makers were hoping would help them ride through the storm—also has entered a period of upheaval and restructuring.
Frankfurt Airport operator Fraport expects passenger numbers to decline this year and in 2009 at its main facility, which is Europe’s third largest after London and Paris. Fraport CEO Wilhelm Bender predicts a 1.5% drop this year, and does not expect to see any growth in 2009 either. To make up for the revenue shortfall, Fraport will raise landing fees by 2%, Bender announced yesterday.
BMI will stop all of its Manchester long-haul flights early next year, and transfer its two Airbus A330s to other routes. Flights to Chicago are already discontinued, effective in January, while flights to Antigua, Las Vegas and Barbados will be kept until after Easter in April 2009.
