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.
The Greek government is focusing discussions in the Olympic Airlines privatization effort on talks with the Olympic Investors/York Capital joint venture. The Finance Ministry did not say whether the venture is the preferred bidder for Olympic. Five bids were made in the latest attempt to privatize the airline. -JF
SAS Group said this week it will cut 200 jobs in the maintenance division by mid-2006. "Medium-heavy and heavy aircraft maintenance is particularly subject to competition," SAS stated. "As a result, the company will now proceed with local efficiency enhancement, cost reductions and further development of production units in Norway and Sweden." SAS plans to cut costs by $1.8 billion to return to profit in 2005. -JF
The European low-fare airline sector is continuing on its path toward consolidation with the merger of Danish low-cost carriers Maersk Air and Sterling. Maersk parent A.P. Moeller-Maersk said yesterday it is selling the airline to Icelandic investors Fons Eignarhaldsfelag hf. The new airline will be named Sterling, operate 30 Boeing 737s and fly about 5 million passengers annually, making it Europe's No. 4 low-cost carrier behind easyJet, Ryanair and Air Berlin.
