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.
Ryanair is introducing a three-times-weekly service from Luebeck, Germany, to Alicante, Spain. The flights will be operated with Boeing 737-800s and will start in July. Luebeck Airport is expected to be taken back by the city after the expected pull-out of New Zealand airport investor Infratil at the end of the year. The move back into state ownership is likely to spark another row over alleged airport subsidies for Ryanair.
The Estonian government wants to inject $3.2 million into national carrier Estonian Air in order to keep the airline flying in spite of its financial difficulties. The Estonian cabinet voted in favor of the decision, but only if fellow shareholders SAS and investment bank AS Cresco contribute accordingly.
Ryanair will add more routes from its base in Hahn, Germany, in May, giving it 50. The airline will introduce flights to Alicante, Spain; Rimini,Italy; Osijek,Croatia, and Carcassone,France. The decision comes after Hahn Airport dropped plans to introduce a €3 passenger departure fee to recoup its investment in upgrades and expansion. Ryanair had threatened to close the base. The European Commission is investigating whether the fee scheme for Ryanair can be considered illegal state aid.
