Author: FlyMarshall Newsroom

It’s not unusual to see airlines give loyalty program members the opportunity to buy up to the next elite tier if they don’t quite qualify naturally. Along those lines, the Delta SkyMiles program has just launched such a promotion, with an interesting twist (thanks to Joe for flagging this). Delta SkyMiles members have the opportunity to qualify for a higher Medallion elite status tier in 2026, with the new Elevate Your Status promotion. This opportunity is available between November 1 and December 31, 2025, and it’s intended for US-based SkyMiles members. Specifically, eligible members can make a one-time purchase of…

There are a lot of choices for business class when it comes to the commercial aviation market today, however, some truly stand out above the competition. Some boast class-leading service quality, luxurious cabin seating, or unique in-flight amenities. The top names in the business are in a race to the top, staking their airline’s success on a brand name renowned for quality and luxury. Qatar Airways is consistently named one of the world’s best business class carriers, most recently winning the title at the Skytrax World Airline Awards in 2025. This reputation is built on its flagship Qsuite product, which…

Ultra-long-haul flights, as categorized by Simple Flying, are services exceeding 8,000 nautical miles in length, take more than 15 hours to travel from gate to gate, and they are the ultimate operational stress test for an airline. Only a handful of carriers actually fly these services routinely, each choosing to do so for a different strategic reason. This allows them to link financial centers nonstop, tap deeper into diaspora flows, defend fortress hubs, and even capture high-yield premium traffic that will not tolerate the inconveniences of a connecting flight. New kinds of long-haul aircraft make this possible, with next-generation, long-range…

An unclassified U.S. Air Force report, mandated by the 2025 NDAA, included figures of the required combat fleet, calling for an increase of nearly 300 jets. The U.S. Air Force needs a total of 1,558 combat-coded jets, nearly 300 more than its current fleet of 1,271 in fiscal year 2026, which could be supported by U.S. aerospace majors hiking their production numbers. These figures, and a host of industrial and operational preparedness recommendations were a part of an unclassified U.S. Air Force report, mandated by the 2025 NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) and to be submitted every year until 2029.…

Across the US Air Force, (USAF) squadrons are steadily transitioning to the F-35 Lightning II as F-16 Fighting Falcons are retired. Meanwhile, the other variants of the F-35 have also replaced fighters in the Navy and Marines. The same pattern is unfolding in Europe, the Pacific, and the Middle East, where allies like the United Kingdom, Italy, Norway, Australia, Japan, and Israel are already flying the Joint Strike Fighter (F-35). Still others, like Poland, Switzerland, and Greece, have more orders pending. A direct, head-to-head comparison of the F-35, aka “Fat Amy” as it is nicknamed, and the F-16 “Viper” highlights…

The Los Angeles County Fire Department has placed an order with Sikorsky for two additional S-70i Firehawk firefighting helicopters. In a year that brutally demonstrated the threat that wildfires pose to the cities and towns of Los Angeles County, USA, the County’s Fire Department has chosen to expand its existing fleet of firefighting aircraft with two brand new Sikorsky helicopters. Announced by Lockheed Martin, parent company of Sikorsky, on Oct. 29, 2025, the helicopters will join the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) fleet of five existing Sikorsky S-70s and three Bell 412s. “The  Firehawk helicopter has been the cornerstone of…

The commercial aviation industry has changed drastically over the past several decades. In the early-to-mid-20th century, air travel was recognized as a niche mode of travel reserved for the wealthy. However, in recent years, the industry has evolved into a global network that connects billions of passengers and tons of cargo each year. In the early days of air travel, airlines operated small fleets of propeller aircraft that could only fly direct to a limited number of destinations. However, over the years, the commercial aviation industry has expanded rapidly. As jet engines and long-range aircraft were introduced, airlines became capable…

With the YFQ-44 now flying, both of the U.S. Air Force’s new Collaborative Combat Aircraft are in flight testing. The YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) developed by Anduril has conducted its first flight on Oct. 31, 2025. Following this milestone, both of the U.S. Air Force’s new uncrewed fighters are now in flight testing as part of the Increment 1 of the CCA program. https://t.co/FBV38llbvd pic.twitter.com/SmffBOzurP — TaskForce23 (@Task_Force23) October 31, 2025 The YFQ-44’s first flight follows the one of the YFQ-42A by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems in August 2025. Both unmanned aircraft were initially expected to enter flight testing by…

The air cargo industry has adapted to trade tensions with shifting market demand, marking the seventh consecutive month of year-over-year traffic growth.  September’s air cargo traffic, measured in cargo tonne kilometers (CTK), rose 2.9% YoY, and traffic on international lanes grew 3.2% YoY, according to data released this week by IATA.  Capacity, measured in available CTKs, rose 3% YoY and rose […] source

Did you know a new one-stop flight is about to take off from Shanghai? It will make the trek all the way to South America, encompassing 29 hours, becoming the world’s longest one-stop flight. This will be the first time that the SkyTeam member, China Eastern Airlines has served a destination in South America, and will remain the only current Chinese carrier to do so. China Eastern will operate the service thanks to gaining fifth freedom rights (the right to fly between two foreign countries on a journey originating or ending in one’s own country), making the stop in Auckland,…