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 pilots will continue to retire at age 60, following a ruling by a Frankfurt court yesterday. The court rejected claims by three pilots who wanted to have their work life extended to age 65 based on a new federal law on equal and non-discriminatory treatment. The court said that it was fair and reasonable that pilots retire at age 60 to ensure the safety of passengers. Lufthansa argues retirement at 60 is part of its collective bargaining agreement with pilot union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC).
Aer Lingus posted a net loss of EUR69 million (US$91 million) in 2006, as the airline was facing the costs of its initial public offering and defense of the Ryanair hostile takeover bid. Sales were up 11% to EUR1.11 billion (US$1.45 billion).
The Airbus A380 will land in the U.S. for the first time next week. Aircraft with the tail numbers MSN001 and MSN007 are planned to land simultaneously at New York Kennedy and Los Angeles airports on Monday, Airbus said. MSN007 will have more than 500 passengers on board as part of the commercial route-proving trial implemented together with Lufthansa. MSN001 will perform an airport compatibility trial in cooperation with Qantas.
