Author: FlyMarshall Newsroom

Chinese company Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) announced that it has successfully completed a hydrogen-powered flight.  The flight test, which took place on April 4, 2026, in the vicinity of the city of Zhuzhou, in Hunan province, involved the hydrogen-powered version of AECC’s AEP100 powertrain.  The engine appears to have been mounted on a W5000, a 7.5-ton unmanned turboprop aircraft.  This aircraft, developed by Chinese cargo drone manufacturer Air White Whale, flew a 36-kilometre circuit during which it reached a speed of 220 km/h. The flight test lasted 16 minutes, during which the aircraft’s altitude never surpassed 300 meters. …

Denmark has signed the first export contract for the SAMP/T NG long-range air and missile defense system, Thales announced on April 21, 2026.   The deal makes Denmark officially the third country to join the SAMP/T NG community after France and Italy, with initial deliveries scheduled to begin in 2028. Thales did not disclose the contract value or the exact number of systems covered, but Copenhagen’s overall ground-based air defense program is budgeted at around 58 billion Danish kroner (or about €7.8 billion) across long- and medium-range layers.  “Thales, with eurosam and MBDA, sincerely thanks the Danish authorities for their trust. The SAMP/T NG is the best mobile…

Subscription Required By Scott Hamilton Part 3 April 21, 2026, © Leeham News: In 2000-2001, Boeing revealed the concept it called the Sonic Cruiser. This sleek, futuristic airplane was conceived to cruise just below the speed of sound. Once an airplane crosses this threshold, it flies at supersonic speeds. The Sonic Cruiser’s concept cruising speed was 0.97 Mach. In 2000-2001, Boeing floated the Sonic Cruiser as a possible new airliner. Cruising just below the speed of sound, the concept died after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Airlines wanted efficiency, not speed. Technology from the Sonic Cruiser were shifted to what became…

US Secretary of the Air Force Troy E. Meink announced on April 20, 2026, that the US Air Force will keep the A-10C Thunderbolt II in service through 2030, reversing a retirement timeline that had been set to conclude in 2029. The decision comes after weeks of unexpectedly heavy A-10 activity in Operation Epic Fury against Iran, and days before the Pentagon is expected to release its detailed fiscal 2027 spending plan. Reversal after years of planned cuts “We will EXTEND the A-10 ‘Warthog’ platform to 2030,” Meink wrote in a post on X, adding that the move “preserves combat…

Ethiopian Airlines is adding six more Boeing 787-9s as it moves ahead with long-haul expansion and prepares for an increase in capacity.  Africa’s largest airline has converted its six Dreamliner options to firm orders, bringing its total recent Boeing 787 commitments to 26 aircraft. The carrier will begin taking delivery of the 26 jets in 2028.   The latest order builds on Ethiopian’s January 2026 deal for nine 787-9s and eleven 737 MAX jets. Boeing said the six newly firmed aircraft come from commitments tied to the airline’s 2023 order.   The order gives Boeing another widebody win at a time when…

As we all know, nowadays a large percentage of profits in the US airline industry are derived from loyalty programs, and in particular, co-brand credit card agreements. The bigger an airline is, the more lucrative its loyalty program can be. Alaska Airlines is probably the airline that most punches above its weight when it comes to loyalty, so there’s an interesting update… Alaska & Bank of America will strengthen ties even more Alaska Air Group and Bank of America have announced a multi-year extension of their co-branded credit card agreement, covering the Atmos Rewards loyalty program. Alaska has partnered with…

Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian just made some comments about hotel loyalty programs, which I think OMAAT readers will find to be interesting. While I think some will take issue with the premise of what he’s saying, I’m not sure he’s wrong, though there is some nuance to it. Hyatt CEO says points can make people feel objectified Hyatt’s CEO recently spoke at the 2026 International Hospitality Investment Forum EMEA, and the topic of hotel loyalty programs came up. World of Hyatt is one of the fastest growing hotel loyalty programs, now with over 63 million members (it’s still a fraction…

It was recently reported that Spirit Airlines might be on the verge of liquidation, and that it could happen within days. The airline is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy (for the second time in two years), and while the company was hoping to emerge from bankruptcy by early summer, that strategy seemed hopeful at best. As you might expect, the current price of jet fuel has probably thrown a wrench in those plans. On Friday, we learned how the airline is reportedly asking the government for a bailout, and on Monday we’ve learned more details about what exactly this request looks…

It was recently reported that Spirit Airlines might be on the verge of liquidation, and that it could happen within days. The airline is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy (for the second time in two years), and while the company was hoping to emerge from bankruptcy by early summer, that strategy seemed hopeful at best. As you might expect, the current price of jet fuel has probably thrown a wrench in those plans. On Friday, we learned how the airline is reportedly asking the government for a bailout, and on Monday we’ve learned more details about what exactly this request looks…

“By implementing the Mental Health Aviation Rulemaking Committee’s recommendations, improving the medical certification process, and providing resources for additional aviation medical examiners, this bill acknowledges that a pilot’s psychological well-being is just as important as their physical health…” Source: Captain Jason Ambrosi, President of ALPA, which represents more than 80,000 airline pilots, commenting on the long-awaited aviation bill as it finally moves forward, with the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation unanimously advancing the Mental Health in Aviation Act to the full Senate for a vote.