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.
Some 83.3% of all short- and medium-haul services in Europe took off within 15 minutes of scheduled departure time in the second quarter, according to the latest figures from the Association of European Airlines (AEA). Long-haul flights suffered slightly more from delays at 76.6%. AEA says the numbers represent a significant improvement from the first quarter. In the first three months of the year, 78.9% of intra-European flights departed within 15 minutes of scheduled time. -JF
Ryanair saw significant improvements in both yields and profits in the June quarter despite having followed the lead of its major airline competitors and increased fares more than 3% in the period. The company posted a net profit of EUR64.4 million (US$78.6 million), up 21% from last year. Passenger numbers were up 30% to 8.5 million and revenues jumped 35%. The relatively stronger revenue increase was due to the yield development, but also to a 44% boost of ancillary revenues generated mainly on the Ryanair web site.
Major European airlines are expected to report improved profits in the next few days. Ryanair today is anticipated to reveal a 15% increase in net profit for the second quarter as the airline continues to build its presence in continental Europe. British Airways will be the first of the big three carriers, including Air France-KLM and Lufthansa, to announce its financial results for the quarter on Aug. 5. BA is expected to report a 35% profit increase, with business travel returning specifically on the airline's key long-haul routes.
