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 said Wednesday it has secured 80% of the revenues generated through travel agencies despite its bitter dispute with travel agency association DRV. Several hundred agencies have refused to sell Lufthansa tickets since Monday to protest the airline's decision to drop commissions. Instead, Lufthansa wants travel agents to charge customers a service fee on top of the ticket fare. Smaller and medium-size agencies fear they can no longer be competitive, but big agency chains have signed the new license agreement with Lufthansa. -JF
Low-fare carriers Hapag-Lloyd Express (HLX) and Volare plan to form an alliance to help keep costs under control and boost revenues. The arrangement would be the second alliance between European low-fare airlines after Air Berlin and FlyNiki announced a similar deal this year. HLX and Volare plan to go through a three-month test phase before a full commitment. During the period, the airlines want to link up their web sites.
The final report on the Oct. 8, 2001, crash of an SAS MD-87 at Milan Linate Airport points to human error, negligent procedures and missing equipment as the main factors leading to the accident. The runway collision of the jetliner with a Cessna business jet killed 118 people. The incident occurred as the Cessna unknowingly taxied onto the active runway in thick fog. The SAS crew had accelerated the MD-87 for takeoff on a scheduled flight to Copenhagen and was unable to react quickly enough when the small plane appeared in front of them.
