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.
German pilot union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) has two candidates running for its presidency who represent materially different strategies. Two Lufthansa captains, Winfried Streicher and Hans Thumm, are heading competing teams to succeed the current board, led by Tim Würfel, also a Lufthansa captain. Results of the elections are to be published on April 30.
Air Berlin’s traffic was down by 5.6% in March, the airline said yesterday. Germany’s second-largest carrier reduced capacity by only 0.8%, thus its load factor was down 3.7 points to 74.1%. The company says figures were affected by the fact that Easter holidays are in April this year. In the first three months, demand was down 6.2% on 3.9% less capacity.
Airbus is hopeful it can keep production rates relatively solid, with company CEO for Customers John Leahy suggesting 2010 could see aboutd 480 deliveries, roughly last year’s level and what’s targeted for 2009. The airframer also makes clear it will show little flexibility in shifting 2009 deliveries.
