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.
Air Berlin has reached a pay deal with pilots of both main group airlines-LTU and Air Berlin. Pilot union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) agreed to accept a pay freeze at both carriers, while Air Berlin in return guaranteed job security for all pilots. The deal expires by the end of 2010. One major component is that the airline will introduce a guaranteed minimum for Air Berlin pilots equivalent to 68 hours per week, which will be increased to 69 hours on Jan. 1.
The European Commission believes the planned cooperation among American, British Airways and Iberia “may be in breach of European rules on restrictive business practices,” and sent a formal Statement of Objections regarding their planned trilateral antitrust immunized alliance.
Andrew Compart (Barcelona, Spain), Robert Wall (Barcelona, Spain), Jens Flottau (Barcelona, Spain)
Low-cost carriers are becoming more cautious about slapping passengers with higher or new add-on charges, fearing a backlash from customers and regulators alike. If airlines do so much unbundling that travelers face untenable fees—and therefore believe they cannot fly for the fare the airline advertises—the European Union will start regulating such practices, predicts Daniel Skjeldam, chief commercial officer for Norwegian Air Shuttle.
