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.
Etihad Airways, strengthening its strategy of leaning heavily on equity partners for growth as well as its ties with one of its largest affiliates, has named Air Berlin CFO Ulf Huettmeyer as its first-ever manager of equity partnerships.
Air France pilots, apparently digging in against expansion of a low-cost subsidiary in France, showed no signs of ending their walkout despite confirmation that Air France-KLM has officially dropped plans to launch a pan-European low-cost carrier. The board regarded the step as a “major concession to reach an agreement” with pilot unions SNPL and SPAF, but the move to abolish Transavia Europe has not given management what it sought.
Financially struggling Air Berlin is making major changes to its fleet plan, canceling Boeing 787-9 and 737-800 orders and planning the phase-out of its 737s with an eye toward becoming an all-Airbus operator by 2016. The carrier is canceling 15 787-9s and 18 737-800s and is phasing out its fleet of 737-700s and 737-800s.
