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.
Lufthansa reduced its Internet booking fees after current charges turned out to be prohibitively expensive by comparison with those of other airlines. The airline will charge EUR10 (US$13) per booking on domestic and European flights and EUR15 (US$20) for long-haul flights, compared with EUR30 and EUR45 in the past. The airline said travel agencies and other providers charged customers less and could offer lower-end prices.
U.S. private equity investor Carlysle Group is understood to have submitted a EUR7-a-share bid for Amadeus Global Travel Distribution. European industry sources said the Carlysle bid, in connection with Citigroup Venture Capital (CVC), competed with offers made by BC Partners and Cinven Group. None of the companies was prepared to confirm its bid officially, and Amadeus shareholders declined comment.
German domestic and low-fare airline DBA will hire 50 additional flight attendants in the next few weeks to make its planned growth possible. The airline plans to increase frequencies on its existing routes and add more international and domestic destinations. DBA is finalizing a 24-aircraft order for either Airbus A319s or Boeing 737-700s and is expected to announce its choice within the next few weeks. -JF
