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.
Finnair almost doubled its operating profit in the third quarter, backed by a substantial increase in demand. Operating profit totaled EUR10.1 million (US$13.1 million) on EUR422.8 million (US$549 million) in revenues, which rose 10%. In the first nine months, demand was up 31.2% as the airline expanded its Asian network and reinforced its efforts to compete against low-fare airlines in Europe. Yield declined 11% systemwide and unit costs 10%. The airline spent EUR55 million (US$72 million) more on fuel than last year.
Air France-KLM revenues were up 6.4% in the second quarter, the company said this week. The group's average yield rose 1.7%, excluding currency effects. But because of the weak U.S. dollar, actual yields improved only 0.3%. Air France-KLM Cargo yields gained 1.3%. Air France sales rose 5.6% to EUR3.36 billion (US$4.35 billion), while KLM grew faster at 8.4% to EUR1.78 billion (US$2.30 billion). Europe's largest airline group will report detailed financial figures on Nov. 24. -JF
Alitalia, at a Dec. 15 meeting, will ask its shareholders to approve of a EUR1.2 billion capital increase that, if approved and accomplished, would reduce the Italian government's stake below 50% for the first time (DAILY, Nov. 4). The capital increase is part of the airline's industrial plan for 2005-2008. The airline posted a EUR29 million (US$37.6 million) pretax loss in the third quarter, up from EUR47 million a year earlier. Its revenues declined from EUR1.17 billion to EUR1.13 billion (US$1.5 billion).
