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.
German authorities this week raided the offices and apartments of senior Air Berlin executives, trying to prove that they violated insider trading rules last year. About 50 police and BaFin (stock exchange oversight) staff confiscated documents and other evidence mainly in the carrier's headquarters near Berlin Airport. Air Berlin denied the charges, but the company's shares dropped by almost 8%.
Lufthansa and Egyptair agreed to code-share on all of their flights between Germany and Egypt. The deal becomes effective for the next winter timetable. Egypt is an important holiday destination for Germans. The carriers plan beyond code shares in North Africa and Europe. -JF
Europe's air transport sector is heading toward the next step in its ongoing reshuffling, following SAS Group's announcement of a major shift in corporate strategy. The airline's new CEO Mats Jansson last week said SAS plans to focus on its core market in Scandinavia and sell units such as Spanair, BMI and Air Greenland. The carrier is also considering pulling out of units such as ground handling or maintenance.
