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.
Swiss International Air Lines is moving ahead in its ongoing financial turnaround, hoping this month's admittance to the Star Alliance will boost revenues. Swiss officially joined the biggest airline alliance last week alongside South African Airways (SAA). After the airline posted the fourth consecutive annual loss since its inception, Swiss CEO Christoph Franz pledged it will break even in 2006 and achieve its first-ever profit next year. In 2005, the carrier reduced operating losses to 14 million Swiss francs ($11 million) from 122 million Swiss francs.
BMI managed to increase its profit in 2005, as mainline yields improved and cost cuts took effect. Revenues were up 4.7% at GBP869 million (US$1.5 billion) and the airline managed to turn a GBP3.2 million operating loss into a GBP5.5 million profit (US$9.7 million). BMI expanded capacity 7.5%, and traffic was up 6.3%.
Stakes in various airlines by Icelandic conglomerate FL Group are in flux as the company sells off its piece of EasyJet, ups its stake in Finnair and orders additional Boeing planes for Icelandair. FL Group's sell-off of its 16.9% holding of EasyJet ends speculation that the company was eyeing a takeover of the low-cost carrier. The sale generated a EUR140 million (US$172 million) profit for FL Group, translating into a 70% return on its investment. FL valued the transaction at EUR325 million (US$400 million).
