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 yesterday named two key executives to head its struggling catering unit, LSG SkyChefs, part of a management shakeup aimed at turning the tide at the unprofitable subsidiary. Walter Gehl will be the subsidiary's new CFO, starting Oct. 1, and Thomas Nagel will head operations. The two executives succeed Patrick Tolbert and Ulrich Droescher. Gehl is head of human resources at Lufthansa's passenger airline unit and will be replaced by Carsten Spohr, head of alliances and strategy.
The Austrian Airlines Group has placed an order for one additional Boeing 737-800. The aircraft will be delivered in July 2005 and will be operated by the group's fully owned subsidiary Lauda Air. Lauda focuses on leisure flying and will unify its fleet by the end of 2005, operating eight 737-800s in a 184-seat layout. The airline will take delivery of one previously ordered 737-800 in April next year and phase out two -400s in October 2004 and June 2005. Its last 737-300 will leave the fleet in winter 2005.
Virgin Atlantic Airways is mulling setting up an airline in Nigeria. "We have been approached by the Nigerian government with a view to establishing a new airline," a Virgin spokesman said yesterday. The carrier also said talks were "very active." The plan pitched to Virgin calls for setting up the Nigerian venture together with additional investors. Virgin Atlantic has operated a daily flight to Nigerian capital Lagos since 2001 and also serves Port Harcourt twice weekly.
