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 and US Airways will introduce code-sharing services across the Atlantic and to several beyond destinations on Oct. 26. Lufthansa will put its code on US Airways flights from Frankfurt to Pittsburgh, Charlotte and Philadelphia as well as from Munich to Philadelphia and beyond Philadelphia on flights to Albany, Baltimore, Elmira, Greensboro, Hartford, Manchester, Pittsburgh, Providence, Raleigh/Durham, San Juan, Washington National, West Palm Beach, White Plains and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Italian regional carrier Gandalf Airlines is searching for new equity partners and could propose the liquidation of the company to shareholders, according to a regulatory filing. Gandalf has been operating since 1995 but has never made a profit. The carrier said it needed roughly EUR4 million (US$4.6 million) to stay in business. It has been through several rounds of attempts to raise new capital, the latest of which was only subscribed to 1.4%.
Lufthansa could reach breakeven on an operational basis this year if traffic continues its upward trend, said Thierry Antinori, executive VP-product and marketing. Antinori said on the sidelines of a travel industry conference that because Lufthansa was more flexible and quicker, it could adapt better to market fluctuations. However, a Lufthansa spokesperson said the profit forecast remains unchanged. According to the company's current official guidance, Lufthansa will not reach breakeven. -JF
