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 yesterday that the effects of the Iraq war and the SARS pneumonia appear to have bottomed out. In May, passenger numbers were up 0.1%. Because of the strong reduction in demand to Asia/Pacific, total traffic was down 4.9% on 6.7% less capacity. The airline improved its load factor by 1.4 points to 74.9%. Traffic in Europe (2%), North/South America (0.8%) as well as Middle East and Africa (8.1%) was growing, while traffic to Asia/Pacific dropped 25.5%. -JF
Finnair expects to report a loss in fiscal 2003, based on second quarter results that are expected to be significantly negative. As far as traffic development is concerned, "there is no indication of any kind of relief for the summer season," President and CEO Keijo Suila said. "If there are no new unpleasant surprises, a slow recovery of demand might begin in the autumn." -JF
