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.
Brussels Airlines is looking to grow its long-haul fleet as soon as economic conditions allow. CEO Bernard Gustin told The DAILY that the carrier is aiming at a fleet of up to 10 Airbus A330s. It currently has four A330-300s that are all deployed on its 14 African routes. Gustin says Brussels’ recent integration into the Lufthansa group could allow it to grow further in Africa, using two to three additional A330s.
Europe’s largest tourism group, TUI Travel, yesterday canceled orders for 10 Boeing 787s. The aircraft were part of a larger order for 23 787s. According to the new agreement with Boeing, TUI will continue to have 13 aircraft on firm order while it now adds purchase rights for 13 additional 787s. The decision means Boeing now has lost orders for 83 787s as a result of development and production delays, as well as the economic downturn.
South African Airways (SAA) says it has reinstated an order for 20 Airbus A320s that has been the subject of a dispute for several years with Airbus. The airline booked a one-off benefit of 407 million rand (US$54.92 million) to reverse an impairment of pre-delivery payments in 2004. The airline at the time wanted to cancel the Airbus narrowbody order, but Airbus insisted that it never received a formal cancellation. The new agreement is now based on “more favorable terms,” SAA said.
