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.
Although Finnair managed to reduce its losses in the first quarter of the year, it is still far from reaching profitability. The airline posted a €20.2 million ($26.7 million) operating loss in the period, less than half of the €43 million net loss reported a year earlier. Sales rose by 10.9% to €592 million. That result is based on a significant improvement in operating performance. The airline increased capacity by 3.9%, but demand rose by 9.1%. Consequently, its yield was up 2.1%, and the load factor improved by 3.6 points to 76.2%.
MTU Aero Engines CEO Egon Behle says negotiations for a higher share in the PW1000G program for the Airbus A320NEO family have been “successful,” and should be concluded by mid-year. The manufacturer has been in talks with its partners on the engine program to secure more work packages on applications for the Bombardier CSeries and the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ).
Norwegian Air Shuttle posted a NOK285.5 million (US$50 million) net loss in the first quarter of 2012, a little less than the NOK293.2 million loss recorded in the same period last year, due to high fuel prices and costs associated with the airline’s fleet expansion. The airline has an aggressive expansion plan, supported by an order for 222 Airbus and Boeing narrowbodies. Revenues were up 25% to NOK2.36 billion, while passenger numbers increased 19% to 3.65 million. The airline’s load factor also improved three percentage points to 77%.
