Author: FlyMarshall Newsroom

Safran Aircraft Engines will acquire a new 30,000 metric ton hydraulic press to manufacture strategic parts for commercial and military aircraft engines. On April 13, 2026, Safran said the new ultra-heavy machinery will support the ramp-up of the CFM International LEAP engines as well as military engines for the Rafale, Mirage and A400M. The upgrade in Safran’s forging capabilities involves a $175 million (€150 million) investment and will create 130 jobs from 2026. The new hydraulic press will be operational by 2029. Safran estimated that at full production the new press will produce 14,000 aircraft parts per year. Safran, which…

Qantas’ first ultra-long-range A350 has emerged from the Airbus assembly line in Toulouse, France, bringing the airline’s long-awaited Project Sunrise closer to reality. The aircraft, carrying the French test registration F-WZNK, rolled out on April 12, 2026, fully assembled with Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, wings, fuselage, and landing gear attached. It will now undergo ground checks followed by a two-month flight testing program before delivery to Qantas by the end of this year. Commercial services are expected to begin in early 2027. What Project Sunrise means for travelers When operations launch, Qantas will offer nonstop flights from Sydney Kingsford Smith…

ISTANBUL — As the United States under President Donald Trump rethinks its security guarantees to Europe, Turkey is making the case for closer integration into the continent’s defense architecture.Speaking at a conference marking the 74th anniversary of Turkey’s entry to NATO, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler criticized the European Union’s reluctance to fully open its defense initiatives to Ankara.Turkey is a member of NATO but not the EU, which means two sets of rules govern — and in many cases limit — cooperation with members of the bloc.“Otherwise, we assess that such an approach by the European Union would cause more…

Etihad Airways has been on quite the expansion kick lately, as the airline is trying to grow its destinations at a record pace. We’ve seen the airline add quite a few new routes in recent months, though here’s perhaps the single most concentrated regional expansion we’ve seen. Etihad increases China from 28 to 35 weekly flights Etihad Airways has announced plans to massively increase its China service, as the airline will go from seven weekly flights to one destination, to 35 weekly flights to six destinations. Etihad plans to launch the following five new routes from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to…

Switzerland’s new Air Force Commander, Major General Christian Oppliger, has warned in stark terms that the country cannot defend itself against modern air threats, describing the situation as a “fight against time” as key procurement programs face delays and cost overruns.  In an interview published by Swiss outlet Blick on April 12, 2026, Oppliger said Switzerland’s responses to airborne threats are “modest and outdated” and that the country has no solution against ballistic missiles.   “We are not defense-ready,” Oppliger said. “That is uncomfortable, but it has to be clearly stated.”  Oppliger, who took command of the Swiss Air Force in October 2025…

A U.S. naval blockade of Iran is a major, open-ended military endeavor that could trigger fresh retaliation from Tehran and put tremendous strain on an already fragile ceasefire, experts say.President Donald Trump, in a social media post after no deal emerged from peace talks this weekend in Islamabad, said the U.S. Navy “will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz.”The U.S. military’s Central Command later said the blockade will only apply to ships going to or from Iran, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of…

Etihad Airways has been on quite the expansion kick lately, as the airline is trying to grow its destinations at a record pace. We’ve seen the airline add quite a few new routes in recent months, though here’s perhaps the single most concentrated regional expansion we’ve seen. Etihad increases China from 28 to 35 weekly flightsEtihad Airways has announced plans to massively increase its China service, as the airline will go from seven weekly flights to one destination, to 35 weekly flights to six destinations. Etihad plans to launch the following five new routes from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to China,…

Fiji Airways is marking a decade of flying between Nadi International Airport (NAN) and Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), a route that has quietly become one of the carrier’s most important links to the broader Asian market. The service launched in 2016 and has since carried more than 318,000 passengers across over 1,700 commercial flights.  The airline said that what started as a bet on connecting the South Pacific to one of Asia’s busiest aviation hubs has evolved into a steady performer, with passenger numbers growing at an average compound annual rate of around 10% over the past 10 years. More…

The first Virgin Atlantic aircraft connected with Starlink Wi-Fi will roll out ahead of schedule after the carrier accelerated the installation process. On April 12, 2026, Virgin Atlantic said the first Airbus A350 with Starlink will enter service in May 2026, flying from London-Heathrow Airport (LHR) to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York. The transatlantic carrier added that its entire A350 fleet will have Starlink connectivity by early summer. When Virgin Atlantic announced in July 2026, that it was the first UK airline to commit to free, fleet-wide Starlink Wi-Fi, the company initially said fleet installation would…

To finish off the return portion of my exotic journey to Bangkok via Paris, I flew SWISS’ Airbus A350-900 business class on the 7hr55min flight from Zurich (ZRH) to Boston (BOS). I was particularly looking forward to this flight, since it was operated by the carrier’s brand new A350, featuring its new SWISS Senses cabins. Big picture, I knew what to expect going into this flight, given that Lufthansa’s A350 Allegris business class is basically the same product that SWISS now has, except the airlines have their respective finishes. I do think SWISS’ soft product has the edge, and that its cabins also look…