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.
Canadian regional aircraft-maker Bombardier Aerospace appears to be moving closer to buying Fairchild Dornier's 728 program. On the sidelines of the company's annual meeting last week, Bombardier CEO Robert Brown said, "There is a basis for commercial analysis" of the program. "In the short term, the chances are positive, but there is much work to do and we are far from a decision," he added. Brown also stressed that the commercial analysis was not a due diligence process. A final decision would be made "later this summer," he was quoted as saying.
Leaders of some of the world's largest airlines are posting caution flags--even though economic news is improving--because there is a sea change evident in the industry's revenues. Many think carriers will be forced to slash costs by restructuring or face bankruptcy, although few think the hub-and-spoke system is a thing of the past. That passengers are unwilling to pay the high fares of the late 1990s is a given.
German airship manufacturer CargoLifter late last week seemed on the verge of collapse, as the company declared it could no longer meet its financial commitments and was approaching bankruptcy. CargoLifter told employees it could not pay May salaries on time, but insisted it had not yet filed for protection from creditors as it continued to negotiate with banks, other investors and the Brandenburg regional government.
