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.
International Airlines Group (IAG) subsidiary Iberia has “an opportunity to grow in the East” so long as it can complete the transformation of its cost structure, IAG Chief Executive Willie Walsh believes. “Iberia could be connecting Asia traffic through Madrid to Latin America,” he said on the sidelines of an Aviation Week event in Washington D.C.
Lufthansa is investing €160 million ($220 million) to add a new premium economy-class cabin, in an effort to lure cost-conscious business travelers back on board. The airline is presenting the new seat at the ITB tourism fair in Berlin on March 5; the first aircraft is to be reconfigured in October.
Qatar Airways plans to take delivery of its first Airbus A380 in June, possibly coinciding with the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) World Air Transport Summit in Doha, Qatar. According to CEO Akbar Al Baker, the aircraft will be equipped with 517 seats—eight in first class, 50 in business and 459 in economy.
