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.
No-frills carrier Germanwings delayed an expected decision on where to open its second base, reluctant to commit itself to further rapid expansion with continuing economic uncertainty and war in Iraq. Stuttgart and Berlin are understood to be the frontrunners when the airline makes its commitment. Germanwings is expected to fly to many of the same destinations it already serves from its current base, Cologne/Bonn.
Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines both denied European press reports on plans for a takeover of the Swiss carrier. Zurich weekly Sonntagszeitung reported that Swiss Chairman Peter Bouw courted British Airways and Lufthansa about a possible investment in the struggling carrier. According to the paper, BA was not interested while Lufthansa appeared to be open for talks. Swiss lost almost CHF1 billion (US$719 million) in 2002 and is shrinking its fleet dramatically to try to stem the losses.
