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.
The Air France-KLM deal will not "open the [consolidation] floodgates," because no capacity actually leaves the industry, said JP Morgan airlines analyst Chris Avery. Moreover, the deal yields no "step-change in the combined group's cost base or profitability," he said, adding British Airways -- which tried twice to merge with KLM -- is unlikely to launch a counterbid to head off the takeover. Disputes over the extent of Dutch control scuttled those efforts.
Air France is going ahead with a takeover of Dutch rival KLM in a long-awaited but premium-priced EUR784 million (US$912.9 million) deal that both companies acknowledged could also expand eventually to include Alitalia.
Air France and KLM today are expected to announce details of a long-awaited tie-up agreement, under which Air France would acquire all of KLM's shares and KLM shareholders would get Air France shares through a capital increase, French union sources say. The move, which one source said is expected to take place within 15 days, would also ease the privatization of Air France. The French airline planned to announce the deal at 7 a.m. local time.
