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 last week concluded its Internet on board trials. The airline equipped one Boeing 747-400 used on the Frankfurt-Washington route during a three-month period (DAILY, Jan. 17). According to Boeing, Lufthansa has operated more than 140 flights with Internet availability since January. On average, 50 to 80 simultaneous users accessed the Internet in flight. Lufthansa also plans to introduce FlyNet, for broadband Internet access, into its long-haul fleet in 2004 but has yet to make a final decision and strike a deal with Boeing. -JF
Finnair has leased an Airbus A319-100 from International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC), scheduled for delivery in April 2004, with a five-year lease term. Two CFM56-5B6/2P engines power the narrowbody. Finnair currently leases 15 jets from ILFC - seven Boeing 757-200s and eight A319s/320s/321s. Finnair also warned it would post an operating loss this year and would initiate recently announced furloughs as early as possible. The carrier plans to reduce its work force by 1,200. -LR/JF
Virgin Atlantic Airways is interested in taking over the Concorde operation from British Airways, CEO Richard Branson told BA in a letter, and asked the larger carrier to hand the aircraft over to his airline rather than museums. Chairman Richard Branson said in a television interview he hoped "by September-October you will see Concorde in Virgin colors, not British Airways colors." But Branson reported that his letter received a negative response, "so I think our next move is to go to the government...and ask them if they can intervene on our behalf."
