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.
Austrian Airlines is facing uncertain times, after the airline said it expects a big loss for 2005 and CEO Vagn Soerensen told the board he will not extend his contract beyond next year. Soerensen, a 45-year-old former SAS Group executive, said the reasons for his decision were of a purely private nature. After 20 years abroad, he wants to return to his home country, Denmark, with his family.
The German government this week said it is selling its 18.2% stake in Fraport AG, the operator of Frankfurt Airport; the stake's market value is EUR660 million (US$797 million). Part of the stake will be sold to institutional investors, while about 7% will be placed through an exchangeable bond. Fraport's shares dropped by 4.2%, the biggest decline in more than two years.
Icelandic aviation conclomerate FL Group this week increased its stake in low-fare carrier easyJet. The company -- which also owns Icelandair and has agreed to buy Danish low-fare airline Sterling -- bought 8.8 million additional shares and now holds 16.2% of easyJet. The buy makes it the second-largest shareholder in easyJet after founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou and his family.
