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 plans to cut staff costs by up to 40% in some areas, according to a German newspaper report. The airline threatened to close down a call center with 350 employees if public services union Verdi did not agree to wage reductions and productivity improvements. Verdi said it is concerned similar demands could follow for other businesses, particularly ground-handling.
Following through with plans to refocus on core aviation functions, Lufthansa Chairman and CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber said he can't rule out the possibility of an initial public offering (IPO) for the Tank & Rast service-station subsidiary. Tank & Rast operates a widespread group of service stations along Germany's highways. Lufthansa, Allianz and finance investors APAX Partners each own one-third in the company. Mayrhuber made the comment in an interview with financial daily Boersen-Zeitung.
Air France this week is expanding its Dedicate business travel program, adding flights to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Doha, Qatar and Kuwait. The plan, launched in January, is targeted at executives, particularly those in the oil industry, and serves thinner, but high-yield, business markets. Air France deploys Airbus A319LRs on the Dedicate routes. The aircraft are equipped with 82 seats, of which 28 are in business class. The carrier's regular A319s have 143 seats.
