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.
Despite poor market conditions last year, turboprop airframer ATR expects the aircraft market to recover in 2004 and projects it will sell 15-20 aircraft this year and deliver about 15. The manufacturer also hopes to sign between 30 and 35 agreements selling used aircraft; last year, it placed 43 planes -- among them 12 ATR 72s -- with new owners.
Bjoern Naef, a high-ranking executive at Swiss International Air Lines, has decided to leave the company. He most recently was executive VP-product and services and was in line to become the CEO of Swiss Express, a regional subsidiary. But the Swiss Express project was canceled as part of a compromise reached with the Swiss pilots union. Naef is understood to have been unhappy with the company's current strategy. Swiss said it regretted his departure. -JF
To say that European airlines in general will be more successful and profitable in 2004 than in 2003 is the easy part of looking ahead at the next 12 months. Traffic in some key areas is rebounding and cost-cutting European majors can improve financial results on their own. On the other hand, pressure on yields will continue to hurt the majors, as low-fare carriers continue to gain market share.
