Author: FlyMarshall Newsroom

NASA’s Artemis II moon rocket began rolling back to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center just after midnight on March 20, returning to the pad after repairs and closeout work ahead of the agency’s first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years.   NASA said the rollout started at 24:20 local time after a plan for an earlier move were delayed by high winds in the area.  The integrated Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, mounted on a mobile launcher, made the roughly four-mile trip from the Vehicle Assembly Building aboard Crawler-Transporter 2. NASA said the vehicle arrived at Launch Pad 39B at 11:21 local time after an 11-hour journey.  The…

We know that American Airlines is trying to once again become a bit more premium. In the summer of 2025, the airline rolled out pajamas and mattress pads in business class on some ultra long haul flights. There’s now a positive update, as American is now rolling out mattress pads on even more flights, so let’s go over the details of the flights on which you’ll find these amenities. American improves Flagship business class amenitiesIn the summer of 2025, American rolled out pajamas and mattress pads in business class on flights to and from East Asia, the Middle East, India,…

Note: This post is updated to reflect that the Aria Suite product has now been scheduled on the Los Angeles (LAX) route, making it the third destination in North America to get the product. In late 2024, we saw Cathay Pacific launch its new Aria Suite business class. I’ve had the chance to fly it, and it’s a phenomenal product. Cathay Pacific is a world class airline, and this really elevates the carrier’s business class to being among the best in the world. As is the case with any new product, the challenge is the lengthy rollout, as actually retrofitting…

Air India sent a Vancouver-bound flight back to Delhi after departing with what Indian media described as the “wrong” Boeing 777 variant for entry into Canada, forcing a costly mid-route U-turn after several hours in the air.  The airline confirmed that Flight AI185 returned to Delhi on March 19, 2026, due to an “operational issue” and said the aircraft landed safely. According to multiple Indian outlets, the aircraft operating as Flight AI185 was a Boeing 777-200LR, while Air India’s approval for service into Canada covers its Boeing 777-300ER fleet and not the LR variant. The mistake was reportedly discovered only after the aircraft had flown for more than four hours and reached Chinese airspace near Kunming. Times of India…

By Bjorn Fehrm March 20, 2026, ©. Leeham News: We have started a series of articles on the Blended Wing Body (BWB) as a potentially more efficient design for passenger-carrying airliners than the classical Tube And Wing (TAW) configuration. In the first article last week, we established that it’s not about getting more lift during the efficiency-deciding cruise phase; it’s about reducing the drag that must be countered by engine thrust. The drag in cruise is essentially decided by the air friction drag against the aircraft’s outer skin, called the wetted surface of the aircraft, and the induced drag, which…

United Airlines has begun the process of replacing the fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft at its Guam base with the unveiling of the first of 10 new 737 MAX 8 jets.   On March 19, 2026, the first Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet joined United Airlines current 10 737-800s and two existing 737-8s at the Western Pacific US territory.   By the end of 2026, United Airlines expects to replace the entire Guam fleet with 737 MAX 8 aircraft.  The first regularly scheduled flights from Guam operating with the new 737 MAX 8 aircraft are to begin on April 30, 2026, on select services to Tokyo-Narita International Airport (NRT).  By the end of August 2026, all United flights from…

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French Rafale fighter jets are said to have shot down around 60 Iranian drones over the United Arab Emirates.   France had already confirmed its Rafale jets were intercepting Iranian drones. On March 4, 2026, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that French jets had neutralized drones targeting the UAE during a defensive mission.  La Tribune says the pace of operations has depleted French stocks of MICA air-to-air missiles faster than expected. The report also highlights a familiar air defense problem, the cost-exchange ratio, with MICA missiles costing around €600,000 to €700,000 per unit, compared with $30,000 to $50,000 for a Shahed drone.  The wider threat environment…

The IMRBPB aims at developing higher maintenance standards and improving safety in maintenance aspects. It allows harmonization between authorities and ensures a common approach.At the IMRBPB Annual Meeting 2026, various improvements are to be agreed, among others:- the update of the International Maintenance Process Standard (IMPS) document;- the Maintenance Programme Development tool MSG-3; and- associated Maintenance Review Board / Maintenance Type Board processes source

Business and tourism must be booming in North Korea, because the country is seeing service from a second international airline! Air China resumes once weekly Beijing to Pyongyang route Air China has announced that it’s resuming flights between Beijing (PEK) and Pyongyang (FNJ). The once weekly flight to North Korea will operate with the following schedule: CA121 Beijing to Pyongyang departing 8:05AM arriving 11:00AMCA122 Pyongyang to Beijing departing 12:00PM arriving 12:55PM The flight will be operated on Mondays in both directions using a Boeing 737-700, which features 128 seats, including eight business class seats and 120 economy class seats. The…