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.
Virgin Atlantic Airways posted a GBP20.9 million profit (US$37 million) for the 10 months ended Feb. 29 on sales of GBP1.27 billion ($2.25 billion). The figures compare with a profit of GBP15.7 million on sales of GBP1.4 billion in the previous financial year. Virgin Atlantic had to change its fiscal year from ending in April to February to conform with that of its shareholders, Virgin Group and Singapore Airlines.
Lufthansa upped its outlook for the 2004 fiscal year after improving its first-quarter results, which were broadly in line with analysts' expectations. "We expect to improve our operating result significantly and again post a positive net result in 2004," the airline said. CFO Karl-Ludwig Kley said in a conference call Lufthansa expects an operating profit of EUR300 million (US$354 million) for the year.
Airbus this year plans to deliver as many aircraft in as it did in 2003, CEO Noel Forgeard predicted yesterday at the Berlin Air Show, adding that the airframer expects orders will end up "in the same ballpark" as last year. While the market was "rather soft" in the first few months of 2004, Forgeard is confident about the second half. Airbus delivered 305 aircraft in 2003. He reported customers are beginning to firm up delivery positions, and some are even asking for earlier slots after several years of deferrals.
