Author: FlyMarshall Newsroom

Air China touched down at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport (AUH) from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) for the first time on January 24, 2026.  The flight carried 278 passengers, completing the inaugural service of the new nonstop route between the Chinese and Emirati capitals. The Boeing 787 widebody operated as flight CA 705, launching what the carrier describes as its first new international route of 2026. The service establishes the first direct air link between Beijing and Abu Dhabi operated by a Chinese airline, though Etihad Airways has long connected the two cities from the opposite direction. Air China…

The Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom announced, on January 24, 2026, that it has selected seven companies to develop prototypes for its AH-64 Apache “loyal wingman” program.  Project NYX, as this program is known, aims to develop Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS) capable of operating alongside the UK’s Apache attack helicopters.   These drones will pair up with piloted aircraft, in what is commonly referred to as “loyal wingman function, to conduct a variety of missions, such as reconnaissance and surveillance, target acquisition, conducting electronic warfare and striking enemy targets.  This concept is one of the new capabilities identified by…

The USAF is introducing an improved version of its deployment construct, called Air Expeditionary Wing 2.0, based on the total force’s inputs and units’ feedback. The U.S. Air Force has announced on Jan. 23, 2026, that it will introduce a new deployment construct later this year, at the beginning of fiscal year 2027. Called “Air Expeditionary Wing 2.0,” the new wing unit of action has been described as an improved version of the legacy construct meant to “maintain an elevated state of readiness to deter and win in high-end conflict.” AEW 2.0 The U.S Air Force has now been working…

There’s always value in being strategic with the frequent flyer program that you credit your flights to. After all, you want to maximize your ability to earn elite status, and also want to rack up as many miles as possible. With that in mind, I recently got a question from a reader that I’d like to address more broadly. If you fly Star Alliance airlines quite a bit, but don’t fly any one airline consistently, what’s the best program to credit to? Let me share some general tips and thoughts, for anyone who might be in this situation (and then…

Maximum Authorized Altitude A published altitude representing the maximum usable altitude or flight level for an airspace structure or route segment. It is the highest altitude on a Federal airway, jet route, area navigation low or high route, or other direct route for which an MEA is designated in 14 CFR part 95 at which adequate reception of navigation aid signals is assured.

Aero Linx: WACO Historical Society With the help of the WACO Historical Society (founded in 1978) members and many generous donors and supporters, Historic WACO Field opened in 1997. The field consists of a 77 acre site and features a 2200 foot runway (2000 feet usable) south of Troy, Ohio. Historic WACO Field is maintained by WACO volunteers and is constantly receiving upgrades and improvements, but we are always in need of additional volunteers to assist in the upkeep of the site.

From 2015 (YouTube Edition): Some Of the Prettiest Sights Of Oshkosh Were Also Very Affordable At EAA AirVenture 2015, there are lots of airplanes to look at, but this one is a real eye catcher. It’s a small single-place airplane, it qualifies as an ultralight, and is so shiny you need dark glasses just to look at it in the sunlight. ANN’s News Editor, Tom Patton, had a sit-down and chat with, Steve Cole, who is the builder and owner of this Hummel UltraCruiser which took the Grand Champion Ultralight trophy this year at Oshkosh. It’s a plans-built airplane that…

A few weeks ago, American Airlines began a phased rollout of free inflight connectivity, which is a very exciting development for the airline. I know many travelers have been frustrated since launch, since the rollout has been gradual. Fortunately there’s some great news, as it’s my understanding that the rollout is now complete (at least for most aircraft types), so let’s cover all the details. American now offers free Wi-Fi for AAdvantage members American Airlines now offers free inflight Wi-Fi on most flights, sponsored by AT&T. Free Wi-Fi is available exclusively for members of the carrier’s AAdvantage program — you…

While domestic upgrades are nice, upgrades on long haul flights are even nicer. Having a flat bed on an overnight transoceanic flight makes all the difference between arriving exhausted and arriving well rested. If not outright redeeming miles for an award ticket, there are sometimes opportunities to use miles or upgrade instruments to score a business class seat. In this post, I’d like to take a closer look at American Airlines’ systemwide upgrades, which AAdvantage elite members can earn. American Airlines systemwide upgrade basics One of the most popular perks of American AAdvantage Executive Platinum and Platinum Pro status is…

Welcome to my next trip report series, which will be a long one! That’s because it covers a combination of a vacation in Iceland, plus a review trip tagged onto the end, which took me through India, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, the UAE, Ireland, and more! This was a super fun trip on many levels, in terms of destinations, airlines, and hotels. In this series, you can expect flight reviews on Icelandair, Air India, Singapore Airlines, Etihad, and Aer Lingus, plus hotel reviews from Iceland, India, Malaysia, and Singapore. Of course there will also be several lounge reviews! Why I took…