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 Star Alliance is likely to decide whether to accept US Airways as a new member to the group at the next Chief Executive Board (CEB) meeting in Washington. A Lufthansa spokeswoman said the issue was a likely topic at the meeting scheduled in May, but a decision has yet to be made. Lufthansa's incoming Chairman and CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber, however, said last week that the airline would welcome US Airways to the group. He was also in favor of integrating Air China into the alliance, though it won't happen in the near term.
Lufthansa German Airlines, Europe's third-largest airline, is facing a worse-than-expected financial performance and is looking at how to contain costs to fly through the current industry downturn.
Lufthansa Cargo has decided to drop the war-risk surcharge it introduced after the outbreak of the Iraq war, effective April 21. The airline charged its customers EUR0.10 (US$0.11) per kilogram. Lufthansa Cargo said all destinations in the Middle East would be served normally after the Easter holidays. -JF
