Author: FlyMarshall Newsroom

India and France are moving closer to a major follow-on Rafale agreement for the Indian Air Force (IAF), with talks expected to accelerate ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India in February 2026.  According to new Indian media reports, New Delhi is examining a government-to-government framework that would combine a large IAF order with expanded local manufacturing, as the service looks to plug growing gaps in its fighter inventory.  President Macron is scheduled to travel to India in February 2026 for an AI-focused summit, but French and Indian commentators alike expect defense industrial cooperation, including the Rafale and engine partnership files,…

Over the past year, Hyatt has outsourced a lot of its customer service, and many people have reported a decline in customer support. I know that historically a lot of people have liked the @HyattConcierge account on X for customer service. However, an OMAAT reader shares a very frustrating interaction he dealt with, which suggests that may be going downhill as well (or maybe he was just really unlucky?). @HyattConcierge X account can’t provide basic information A reader shares that he has always appreciated the option to DM @HyattConcierge on X, to get simple things done without calling. However, he…

Malaysia Aviation Group’s training division MAB Academy officially opened its new purpose-built simulator facility in Sepang on January 6, 2026. The launch marks the completion of its transition from a 40-year-old training center in Subang and positions the academy as a regional hub for aviation professional development. The new MAB Academy Simulator Building at South Support Zone houses six full-flight simulator bays, including units for the Airbus A330neo, Boeing 737-800NG, and ATR 72-500. According to Malaysia Airlines, the facility was designed to support focused learning environments, with dedicated training spaces that encourage direct instructor-trainee interaction and structured skill development. Transport…

The Capital One mileage program has just launched its newest transfer bonus, and it could represent a good value… Transfer Capital One miles to Lifemiles with 15% bonusBetween January 12 and February 11, 2026, the Capital One mileage program in the United States is offering a 15% bonus on points transfers to Avianca Lifemiles. Capital One 15% transfer bonus to LifemilesOrdinarily miles transfer at a 1:1 ratio (in 1,000 mile increments), while through this promotion you’d get 1,150 Lifemiles for every 1,000 Capital One miles transferred.We see transferable points currencies frequently offer bonuses on transfers to Lifemiles, and we’ve seen…

Allegiant Air, a leisure-oriented carrier based in Las Vegas, Nevada, has announced the acquisition of Sun Country Airlines for $1.5 billion in cash and stock. This amount includes $400 million of Sun Country Airlines’ debt, to be taken on by the acquiring airline.   The deal, which was announced on January 11, 2026, has already been approved by the boards of directors of both airlines and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, provided it doesn’t meet any objection from the competition authorities.  The 0.1557 shares of Allegiant common stock and $4.10 in cash that Allegiant is offering…

Jan. 12, 2026: LNA’s Comments Open Forum allows Readers opportunities to comment about any post (note, we said “Post”, not any “Topic”). All comments will be held for review and Moderation per our new policy. The Open Forum enables Readers to Comment on paywall articles (to the extent the paywall preview is open to all readers). Maintain civility and follow Reader Comment rules. A new Open Forum will be posted weekly. Related source

Subscription Required By Tom Batchelor and Karl Sinclair January 12, 2026, © Leeham News: Embraer enters the new year in a strong position: financially sound, operationally stable, and arguably in prime position to disrupt the Airbus-Boeing duopoly.  Credit: Embraer. After several years of decline, Boeing is on the up but for now it remains consumed by certification challenges, while Airbus shows little desire to disturb a production system that is sold out well into the next decade. Against this backdrop, all eyes are on Embraer to see what it will do next.  The company is known to be exploring a…

Dassault Aviation has announced a strategic partnership with French defense technology company Harmattan AI and is leading the startup’s $200 million Series B funding round to accelerate the integration of “controlled autonomy” and artificial intelligence into future combat aviation systems. Announced on January 12, 2026, the agreement aims to develop embedded AI functions for Dassault’s next generation of combat aircraft, explicitly including the Rafale F5 standard with a particular focus on the control of unmanned aerial systems such as the UCAS ‘loyal wingman’. Dassault describes the effort as part of a wider strategy to bring “sovereign, controlled and monitored AI”…

Credit card issuers make money in three primary ways — through interchange fees, through interest charges, and through annual fees. Along those lines, President Trump is suggesting he’s going to be majorly regulating this, and it could have implications for consumers, both positive and negative. Trump calls on one year cap on credit card interest rates Trump has taken to his Truth Social platform to suggest that credit card companies should cap their interest rates at 10% as of January 20, 2026, for a period of one year. Here’s the text of what he wrote: Please be informed that we…

China has completed the maiden flight of the Tianma-1000, the country’s first domestically developed mid-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The initial test flight took place in Shaanxi province on January 10, 2025, marking an important milestone in China’s push to expand autonomous aviation platforms for both civilian and dual-use operations. Developed by Xi’an Aisheng Technology Group, a subsidiary of the state-owned defense conglomerate China North Industries Group Corporation, the Tianma-1000 is designed to operate in demanding high-altitude environments. The unmanned aircraft can take off and land on extremely short runways, making it well-suited for operations in remote and infrastructure-limited regions.…