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.
Association of European Airlines (AEA) member carriers saw traffic grow 7% overall in July, the association said this week. Asian routes continue to be the strongest growth segment, up 13%, with intra-European travel up 6.5%. The North Atlantic routes developed at a slower pace with a 2.2% increase. "While the industry struggles with the exorbitant cost of fuel, the market at least is continuing to deliver a resounding vote of confidence in air transport," AEA Secretary General Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus said. -JF
Germanwings will add six routes to its Stuttgart base at the end of October. The low-fare airline will introduce flights to Duesseldorf, Prague, Milan, Paris, Bologna and Verona, Germanwings said this week. The company currently serves 18 destinations from Stuttgart, its second-largest base behind Cologne/Bonn. Germanwings claims it will be the largest airline in Stuttgart when the new flights are launched. Duesseldorf will receive twice-daily service, while the other destinations will get less frequent flights.
British Airways yesterday became the latest European airline to increase the fuel surcharge again on long-haul trips, matching rival Virgin Atlantic, who upped its surcharge earlier this week. The airline will charge GBP30 (US$55) per sector, up from GBP24 (US$44).
