The Professor’s Minute Minute — October 8, 2025

Six things to make you rethink the world of travel and tech (again).

Sobering stats on Agentic AI. — Not every agent is earning its keep; adoption remains sluggish.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/eordax_ai-agents-workflow-share-7380548720695611392-fYRf

Airline loyalty maybe should be like a car wash. — Subscription simplicity? Great idea. Implementation? Not going to happen.

https://substack.com/inbox/post/174743830

Notebook LM’s AI autopsy. — A podcast dissects Play’s failure—and the irony that AI narrates its own postmortem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=ZK8WpNbfcW0

BA Holidays dumps OpenJaw. — Thoughtworks takes the wheel as BA Holidays modernizes its tech stack.

https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/british-airways-holidays-partners-with-thoughtworks/

Now they know how the rest of us feel. — Pilots discover coach class… and empathy.

https://viewfromthewing.com/pilots-start-to-sympathize-with-passengers-as-soon-as-theyre-forced-to-fly-in-coach-roundup/

Quirky — The self-driving car reimagined: fewer drivers, more philosophers behind the wheel.

https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/themes/the-future-of-self-driving-cars-reinventing-the-road-ahead

Sources:

• LinkedIn – Eordax AI

• Substack

• YouTube – Notebook LM Podcast

• Breaking Travel News

• View from the Wing

• McKinsey & Company

Hashtags:

#PMM #AI #AgenticAI #Airlines #Loyalty #BAHolidays #Thoughtworks #Pilots #CoachClass #Quirky #TravelTech

Image description:

A Picasso-style cubist painting where technology and travel collide: geometric agent figures fading into code streams, a revolving loyalty card like a car wash wheel, an AI face reflected in podcast microphones, an aircraft tail labeled BA turning toward Thoughtworks’ abstract logo, a pilot squeezed into a cramped seat, and a ghostly self-driving car with an empty steering wheel. Surreal, vivid, and sly. 

📣 Don’t forget: Follow the full archive at t2ni.blogspot.com and check the Best of the Week every Sunday on LinkedIn and Instagram.

You can also read The Professor’s longer takes at t2impact.blogspot.com

Vintage archive: tumblr.com/professorsabena 

The Professor’s Minute Minute — October 7, 2025

 

Six things you didn’t know you needed to know today.

More stats. — Global air travel will hit 9.8 billion passengers this year, almost back to pre-COVID highs.

https://aci.aero/2025/09/30/global-air-travel-forecasted-to-reach-9-8-billion-passengers-in-2025-nearing-the-historic-10-billion-milestone/

Free booze for high-priced tickets. Fair? — Air Canada reintroduces complimentary alcohol in economy on some routes.

https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/air-canada-serves-free-alcohol-225618406.html

Bring us your poor and your Europeans. — Mark Cuban courts European AI founders for U.S. startup deals.

https://www.thevccorner.com/p/mark-cuban-ai-startups-interview-dealflow

Are you a U.S.-based WestJet passenger? Then pay attention. — WestJet discloses a data breach affecting U.S. customers.

https://westjet.mediaroom.com/2025-09-29-WestJet-Provides-Notice-of-Data-Incident-to-United-States-Residents

Here’s a thought. — Boeing’s next-gen jet design owes more to the 757-300 than you might think.

https://airinsight.com/boeings-next-jet-why-the-757-300-shapes-its-future/

Quirky: — WestJet unveils new “no-recline” seats; the lean-back tax is now literal.

https://globalnews.ca/news/11450528/westjet-new-seats-no-recline/

---

Sources:

• ACI World

• Yahoo Finance Canada

• The VC Corner

• WestJet Media Room

• AirInsight

• Global News

Hashtags:

#PMM #Travel #Aviation #Boeing #AirCanada #WestJet #MarkCuban #AI #Airports #Quirky #Ancillary

Image description:

A cubist, Picasso-style collage of the day’s themes: a rising graph shaped like a jet stream, a gleaming drink glass floating mid-air, geometric figures shaking hands across the Atlantic, data-bits pouring from a jet silhouette, a deconstructed 757-style fuselage, and a rigid seatback standing tall in protest. Playful, painterly, and ironic. No text.

📣 Don’t forget: Follow the full archive at t2ni.blogspot.com and look out for the Best of the Week every Sunday on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Read more musings at t2impact.blogspot.com.

Old archive: tumblr.com/professorsabena.

The Professor’s Minute Minute — October 6, 2025

 

Six jolts to see your assumptions differently.

Will this help or hurt travel? — Habits from WFH are now pulling travel trends either way.

https://killercharts.substack.com/p/the-death-of-working-from-home

Humans and AI. — In the era of LLMs, “experience” will be the new currency.

https://www.phocuswire.com/age-of-ai-experience-real-product?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily&oly_enc_id=1561H5098334D8F

The new face of warfare. — Northrop tests longer-range anti-drone rounds after Ukraine feedback.

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/northrop-grumman-tests-longer-range-anti-drone-bullets-after-ukraine-feedback-2025-10-03/

So this is how to pronounce the name. — A TikTok guide surfaces for the proper way to say it.

https://www.tiktok.com/@pointsbyj/video/7553752238565494030

Sabre the target. — Investors probe Sabre over suspected securities failures.

https://www.wbtw.com/business/press-releases/accesswire/1081337/sabre-corporation-being-investigated-on-behalf-of-sabre-corporation-investors-contact-levi-korsinsky-for-details/

Quirky — Hollywood’s Best Times obituary reel gets meta: actors outliving their own films.

https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/the-best-times-film-obits-jkkzt87zh

Sources:

• Killer Charts

• PhocusWire

• Reuters

• TikTok

• WBTW / Accesswire

• The Times

Hashtags: #PMM #Travel #AI #Defense #Sabre #Warfare #Quirky #Culture #Obits

Image description: A Picasso-style collage: shifting silhouettes merging human and AI forms, elongating projectiles, a floating name with phonetic spikes, stock lines cracking over Sabre’s shape, and an actor’s silhouette inside a film reel apocalypse. 

The Professor’s Minute Minute — October 5, 2025

 

Six slices of reality with a side of snark.

Travel is down. Another Trump victim. — US Travel warns a weak outlook could cost jobs.

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/impacting-travel/us-travel-association-releases-updated-travel-forecast-predicts-threats-to-economy-and-jobs

So where is that growth? — A look at the top 15 European airports for post-2019 gains.

https://airserviceone.com/air-service-one-bitesize-analysis-of-the-day-3rd-october-2025-top-15-european-airports-for-post-2019-growth/

The death of small airports. — Regional fields keep shrinking under relentless pressure.

https://airserviceone.com/ailevon-pacific-asia-pacific-air-service-development-insights-data-analysis-commentary-from-a-fresh-perspective-october-1st-2025/

And you wonder why prices are so high? — Slot scarcity keeps fares sticky.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/koenkarsbergen_airportslots-aviation-airlines-share-7379879359018602496-7ftj

For people like me this is a big ouch. — Delta selling first class for $26: status upgrades, RIP.

https://viewfromthewing.com/delta-now-sells-first-class-for-26-status-upgrades-are-dead/

Quirky — TSA to travelers: please stop hiding animals in “weird places” (yes, turtles in a bra).

https://people.com/tsa-busts-woman-bringing-2-turtles-stuffed-in-bra-through-security-11778681

Sources:

• TravelPulse

• AirServiceOne – Growth

• AirServiceOne – Small Airports

• Koen Karsbergen (LinkedIn)

• View from the Wing

• People.com

Hashtags: #PMM #Travel #Aviation #Airports #Slots #Regional #Europe #Delta #Loyalty #Fares #TSA #Quirky

Image description: Picasso-style cubist canvas: shrinking regional runway shards, a booming hub casting long shadows, tight slot “bars,” a tiny gilded seat beside a big price tag, and a mischievous turtle peeking from a traveler silhouette. 

The Professor’s Minute Minute — October 4, 2025

 

Six glimpses that make regular seem weird.

Tremendous work. — Nanaimo Airport pays local Snuneymuxw community as profits soar.

https://cheknews.ca/tremendous-day-for-us-nanaimo-airport-shares-profits-with-snuneymuxw-1279833/

Not so fast if you think Boeing has free reign. — FAA is restoring Boeing’s power to issue some 737 and 787 airworthiness certifications.

https://www.flightglobal.com/airframers/faa-restores-boeing-authority-to-issue-some-737-and-787-airworthiness-certificates/164691.article

Chances are you have flown on this. — The Cessna 182 Skylane turns 70 and still flies in many fleets.

https://aviationweek.com/business-aviation/aircraft-propulsion/cessna-182-skylane-turns-70

How’s it going? — Q3 funding and startup trends in travel show patterns worth watching.

https://www.phocuswire.com/travel-startup-funding-q3-2025

Vanity projects first? — NASA’s acting head suggests returning to the Moon is top priority over other exploration goals.

https://aviationweek.com/space/space-exploration/nasas-return-moon-top-priority-acting-administrator

Quirky: Back to the grindstone. — “The death of working from home” reminds us hybrid may be the new default.

https://killercharts.substack.com/p/the-death-of-working-from-home

Sources:

• ChekNews

• FlightGlobal

• Aviation Week

• PhocusWire

• Aviation Week (Space)

• Killer Charts

Hashtags: #PMM #Aviation #Travel #Boeing #FAA #Cessna182 #Startup #NASA #Moon #WFH #HybridWork #Quirky

Image description: A cubist, dreamlike canvas: a runway dividing earth and space, fragmented Cessna wings, a regulatory stamp breaking, lunar shapes rising, a community gathering under a profit beam, and hybrid work returning. No words.

So did you spot yesterday's deliberate error?

The Professor’s Minute Minute — 03 October 2025

 

Six flashes to keep you on your toes.

That must be annoying… — A Qantas flight from Sydney to Johannesburg made a mid-air U-turn.

https://travelweekly.com.au/qantas-sydney-johannesburg-flight-forced-to-make-mid-air-u-turn/

Work and get no pay. Thanks Republicans. — Over 11,000 FAA employees face furloughs amid political standoff.

https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/10/01/faa-to-furlough-over-11000-employees/#google_vignette

Fall out over Spirit’s challenges. — Spirit Airlines is preparing to reject certain aircraft leases amid financial strain.

https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/spirit-airlines-prepares-reject-certain-aircraft-leases

Hmmm I wonder if everyone in Dublin knows this? — A piece examines how citizens subsidize Ryanair and Aer Lingus.

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2025/10/01/how-you-are-subsidising-ryanair-and-aer-lingus/

Is $2.5 Bil enough? — A new legal filing explores whether that sum is sufficient in a tech-litigation stake.

https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/2392522

Quirky: In the mind (or mouth) of Bryan Chesky — A doc invites you into the internal rhetoric and persona of the Airbnb cofounder.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fHZEv5JjxPTvTwmCH9s4waawX_Egu9s5Qoj9DmRL9rw/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.lmkpg1wsbpc5

Sources:

• Travel Weekly AU

• Aviation A2Z

• Aviation Week

• Irish Times

• Law360

• Google Doc

Hashtags: #PMM #Aviation #Travel #Airlines #Politics #FAA #Ryanair #SpiritAirlines #TechLaw #Chesky #Quirky

Image description: A stylized, semi-cubist scene: a looping jet making a U-turn, a chain of silhouettes behind an empty desk, broken airplane leases floating, Dublin’s skyline overlaid with airport tails, a stack of dollars fracturing, and a mouth speaking into a cloud. No text.

The Professor’s Minute Minute — October 2, 2025

 

Six observations to sharpen your view before anyone else does.

Old folks flying? — Senior travel bookings are rising and tech is adapting to their needs.

https://www.phocuswire.com/senior-travel-booking-technology-trends

Is this new? I think so. — A fresh framework in that doc is quietly redefining how we think about travel demand.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1t5kSXAR3hQaa0XsaaesFRgcrzMemkJs7X63usZTCm2g/edit

Top teams. — The 2025 Corporate Travel 100 list highlights which firms are setting the standard.

https://www.businesstravelnews.com/Corporate-Travel-100/2025

Did we forget the consumer? — A new “Offer → Order” blueprint dives into consumer buying in flight booking.

https://revman.substack.com/p/offer-order-blueprint-is-buying-plane

Agentic AI from McKinsey — McKinsey’s new report explores how “agentic AI” could reshape travel.

https://substack.com/redirect/ac9b1e12-3cdd-4e9a-b968-0190745b2107

Quirky: The true cost of ChatGPT? — Bloomberg graphs reveal how data centers’ electricity use is ballooning.

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-ai-data-centers-electricity-prices/

Sources:

• PhocusWire

• Google Doc

• Business Travel News

• RevMan / Substack

• McKinsey / Substack Redirect

• Bloomberg Graphics

Hashtags: #PMM #Travel #Aviation #SeniorTravel #TechTrends #Consumer #AI #DataCenters #Electricity #Innovation #Quirky

Image description: A cubist, Picasso-style canvas: an elderly traveler climbing stairs, fractured circuitry running skyward, angular corporate figures in motion, abstract AI robot heads floating above, two silhouetted consumers exchanging a ticket, and jagged electric currents feeding glowing data-center blocks. Bold, whimsical, surreal. No text anywhere.

📣 Don’t forget: Follow the full archive at

https://t2ni.blogspot.com

And check out the Best of the Week on LinkedIn & Instagram.

Professor’s musings: https://t2impact.blogspot.com

Old archive: https://www.tumblr.com/professorsabena

The Professor’s Minute Minute — October 1, 2025

Six quick hits to make you smarter before the kettle boils.

This was bound to happen — Office visits are rising as hybrid work becomes the norm.

https://killercharts.substack.com/p/the-death-of-working-from-home

Does crime pay? — US crime rates are nearly half of what they were in 2001.

https://usafacts.org/answers/what-is-the-crime-rate-in-the-us/country/united-states/

Sad story — A stowaway was found dead in an aircraft’s landing gear.

https://www.travelmole.com/news/stowaway-found-dead-in-planes-landing-gear/

A word to the wise when travelling — Insurance may not cover complications tied to Ozempic use.

https://travelweekly.com.au/agents-alert-the-ozempic-insurance-gap-your-clients-cant-afford-to-miss/

The Brazilian love match has been called off — Azul–GOL merger talks have ended.

https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/daily-memo-azul-gol-merger-talks-end-now

Quirky — A Ryanair passenger ate their passport mid-flight, forcing a diversion.

https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/09/30/ryanair-flight-diverted-after-passenger-eats-passport/

Sources:

• Killer Charts

• USAFacts

• TravelMole

• Travel Weekly AU

• Aviation Week

• Aviation A2Z

Hashtags: #PMM #Travel #Aviation #WFH #HybridWork #CrimeStats #TravelInsurance #Ozempic #Brazil #Azul #GOL #Ryanair #Quirky

Image description: A surreal artist collage: a glowing office turnstile, a crime-rate graph falling over a skyline, landing gear silhouette with ghostly figure, floating pill blister pack with a travel tag, Azul and GOL tails splitting apart, and a bitten passport drifting in the sky. Whimsical and slightly dark, no text included.

📣 Don’t forget: Follow the full archive at https://t2ni.blogspot.com and look out for the Best of the Week recap every Sunday on LinkedIn and Instagram.

You can also read the Professor’s musings here: https://t2impact.blogspot.com

And explore the old archive: https://www.tumblr.com/professorsabena

The Professor’s Minute Minute — September 30, 2025

 

The Professor’s Minute Minute — September 30, 2025

Five big stories (and one quirky) shaping travel, aviation, and humanity today:

• Virtual Interlining Goes Next-Gen

  Eurowings is pushing the boundaries by embedding codeshare integrations directly into its website and app — creating a more seamless experience. We’re finally moving beyond clunky links and PDFs into real dynamic connectivity.

• A Quarter Century of Travel’s Greatest Hits

  Travel Weekly celebrates 25 years with a retrospective of the industry’s highs, lows, and weird pivots. Sometimes we forget how far we’ve come — and how often we circle back to the same debates.

• PLAY Airlines Collapses

  Iceland’s disruptor airline has officially gone bust. Another cautionary tale about over-ambitious expansion and fragile transatlantic models. Expect a fight over refunds and stranded pax.

• Africa’s Liberalization Stalls (Again)

  After years of promises, African airline liberalization faces another slowdown. Aviation remains key to economic development — and this is a missed opportunity for connectivity and growth.

• Blue Origin Expands New Shepard Fleet

  Jeff Bezos is still reaching for the stars — literally. More vehicles, more launches, and maybe one day a profitable space tourism business.

• Quirky: The Original Airline Computer System

  Sabre transformed aviation decades ago. Airways Magazine has a fascinating piece on how this system laid the groundwork for everything we do in travel tech today.

Image Vibe:

A vibrant, angular Picasso-style Cubist composition using bold reds and cool blues, representing movement and interconnectedness — evoking the sense of network maps and travel routes crisscrossing the globe.

Sources:

• Eurowings codeshare integration: Travel and Tour World

• 25-year retrospective: Travel Weekly

• PLAY Airlines collapse: Independent

• African liberalization slowdown: Aviation Week

• Blue Origin expansion: Aviation Week

• Quirky (Sabre history): Airways Magazine

Hashtags:

#Travel #Aviation #Airlines #Tourism #TravelTech #AI #Innovation #Picasso #Connectivity

The Professor’s Minute Minute – September 29, 2025

 

AI reality checks, angry customers, Canada in the spotlight, SAF tunnel vision, and Emirates pushing 777X further right—plus a drone verdict that stings.

1. Airline AI reality check

   PROS’ Chief AI Strategist Michael Wu lays out where airlines actually are on AI—great slideware, thin plumbing. Read and calibrate.

   (PhocusWire)

2. Air Canada’s 54,000-claim backlog

   Post-strike turbulence moves from the tarmac to the inbox. That many claims is a reputational debt with interest.

   (CTV News)

3. All eyes on Canada (and Montréal)

   ICAO opens its Assembly in Québec with major investment pledges; policy gravity is shifting north.

   (ICAO)

4. IATA doubles down on SAF

   Still selling sustainable aviation fuel as the path to net zero. Chemistry, cost curves, and feedstock realities say: “not alone.”

   (IATA)

5. Emirates 777X now 2027

   Cabin plans scrapped, deliveries slide—again. The flagship that keeps moving right on the Gantt chart.

   (AviationA2Z)

6. Quirky: Drone pilot jailed & fined $156k after Mini-3 collides with LA firefighting aircraft. Deterrence or overreach? You decide.

   (AirGuide)

📣 Don’t forget:

The Professor’s Minute Minute → https://tinyurl.com/ynvpddfw

The OFFICIAL Professor Sabena Blog → https://tinyurl.com/j9x8cmhm

Explore the old archive → https://tinyurl.com/njj9z6p4

#Tags

#Aviation #Airlines #TravelTech #AI #CustomerExperience #ICAO #IATA #SAF #Emirates #777X #AirCanada #DroneSafety #AviationNews #Picasso

Sources

• PROS / Michael Wu on airline AI: https://www.phocuswire.com/pros-chief-ai-strategist-michael-wu-airlines

• Air Canada claims backlog: https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/air-canada-says-54000-claims-still-in-backlog-after-summer-strike/

• ICAO Assembly investments: https://www.icao.int/news/icao-assembly-opens-quebec-announcing-major-investment

• IATA on SAF & net zero: https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/2025-releases/2025-09-23-01/

• Emirates 777X deliveries pushed to 2027: https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/09/25/emirates-cancels-777x-business-class-plan/

• Drone pilot sentence & fine: https://airguide.info/drone-pilot-sentenced-to-jail-and-156k-fine-after-dji-mini-3-collision-with-la-firefighting-plane/

Style verification (and image vibe): Monday → Blue Period. Cool, muted blues; calm, reflective mood; angular planes suggesting a wing/fin and terminal canopy; no text.

The Professor’s Minute Minute — September 28, 2025

 

Ryanair boarding pass debate continues.

Letters are pouring in — and this one is particularly sharp — calling out Ryanair’s “digital only” policy.

French pensioners win the life lottery.

Apparently, they earn more than working-age citizens. I suddenly have a retirement plan.

Delta swaps out toxic A320 engines.

Passengers may soon enjoy fresh air again after Delta moves to replace engines linked to cabin fume issues.

Air Canada pays the price.

The flight attendant strike reportedly cost CA$270 million. Labor disputes: expensive lessons in “human capital.”

Lufthansa’s long road back.

The flag carrier faces an uphill battle to recover competitiveness. Big isn’t always beautiful — sometimes it’s just slow.

Quirky of the Day:

Futurist Parag Khanna paints a fascinating picture of where humans will live next. Space colonies? AI-designed cities? Read and decide: Where Humans Live in the Future

📣 Don’t forget: Follow the full archive at t2ni.blogspot.com and look out for the Best of the Week recap every Sunday on LinkedIn and Instagram.

You can also read the Professor’s musings here: https://t2impact.blogspot.com

And explore the old archive: https://www.tumblr.com/professorsabena

#Tags:

#Travel #Aviation #Airlines #Tourism #TravelTech #Lufthansa #Delta #AirCanada #Ryanair #Pension #Labor #Picasso

The Professor’s Minute Minute – September 27, 2025

 

Digital-only boarding, awards night, AA’s premium problem, C919 slips, Microsoft’s rethink—and a quirky history of Sabre.

1. Ryanair goes fully digital

   Mandatory digital boarding passes from next month. Fewer queues, more phones, inevitable edge cases.

   (Irish Times)

2. UK travel glitterati

   TTG’s Travel Industry Awards 2025: a who’s-who snapshot of the sector’s movers and shakers.

   (TTG Media)

3. American’s premium rhetoric vs reality

   A sharp take: AA still has a revenue problem—premium talk isn’t matching outcomes (and that debt load looms).

   (The Airline Observer)

4. COMAC’s C919 falls behind

   Filings show delivery targets slipping—the long road from certification to dependable production.

   (Reuters)

5. Microsoft trims defense work

   WSJ: Microsoft pulls back engagement with Israel’s defense ministry—watch for enterprise and geopolitics to intersect in cloud deals.

   (Wall Street Journal)

6. Quirky: How Sabre transformed aviation and IT — from punch cards to PNRs to the modern GDS stack, a brisk history lesson.

   (Airways)

---

📣 Don’t forget:

The Professor’s Minute Minute → https://tinyurl.com/ynvpddfw

The OFFICIAL Professor Sabena Blog → https://tinyurl.com/j9x8cmhm

Explore the old archive → https://tinyurl.com/njj9z6p4

#Tags:

#Travel #Aviation #Ryanair #DigitalBoardingPass #Awards #AmericanAirlines #COMAC #Microsoft #GDS #Sabre #Picasso

Style verification: Saturday → Neoclassical Picasso (clean lines, sculptural forms, warm ochre/cream with muted blues; no text on the image)

The Professor’s Minute Minute – September 26, 2025

Data partnerships, dominance disputes, IPO hopes, agency consolidation—and one lucky stowaway ducking death.

1. Amadeus + ForwardKeys = Data squared

   Amadeus is betting big on traveller intelligence by partnering with ForwardKeys. Expect better forecasting tools — and a few privacy debates.

   (Moodie Davitt Report)

2. Ryanair faces abuse-of-dominance probe in Italy

   Italy’s antitrust authority files a chargesheet alleging Ryanair abused its dominant position. This could reshape distribution battles.

   (Global Competition Review)

3. Who saw this coming? Bing surges

   Microsoft’s search engine sees a surprising growth wave, suggesting Google’s grip on search might actually be loosening.

   (Growth Memo)

4. Beta Technologies preps for IPO

   The eVTOL startup is ready to test public-market appetite. Will investors bite, or is the sector still too frothy?

   (The Air Current)

5. Direct Travel + ATPI merge to form $6B powerhouse

   Massive agency consolidation is here: Direct Travel acquires ATPI to create one of the largest players in the Power List ecosystem.

   (Travel Weekly)

6. Quirky: Afghan teen survives flight from Kabul to Delhi—hidden in the landing gear. A terrifying reminder of what desperation drives people to do.

   (Aviation24)

---

📣 Don’t forget:

The Professor’s Minute Minute → https://tinyurl.com/ynvpddfw

The OFFICIAL Professor Sabena Blog → https://tinyurl.com/j9x8cmhm

Explore the old archive → https://tinyurl.com/njj9z6p4

#Tags:

#Travel #Aviation #Amadeus #Ryanair #Data #Bing #SearchEngines #eVTOL #TravelTech #Consolidation #Picasso

Style Verification: Friday → Classic Cubism (strong geometric shapes, limited palette, bold but slightly playful — perfect for end-of-week wrap-up energy)

The Professor’s Minute Minute – September 25, 2025

 

Nvidia buys its way to the future (as if it hand't already done so, the FAA actually hires (perhaps) enough controllers, Sabre bets on Agentic APIs, and Boeing closes the book on a widebody era.

1. After all we are family now

   Nvidia and OpenAI deepen their relationship with a $100B+ deal aimed at securing AI compute capacity. Data center spending just went into overdrive.

   (WSJ)

2. FAA finally meets controller hiring goal

   The agency hits its 2025 air traffic controller hiring target. It’s still not enough to fix ATC capacity woes — but it’s a rare win.

   (AviationWeek)

3. Affordable Skies pushing for change

   Grassroots advocacy continues for making air travel cheaper and more accessible. A rare dose of optimism.

   (Affordable Skies)

4. Sabre seizes Agentic API first-mover advantage

   PRNewswire reports Sabre launches a full suite of Agentic APIs — a significant move in travel tech and possibly the first at-scale play in this emerging area.

   (PRNewswire)

5. The last 777-300ER rolls out

   Boeing ends production of its iconic 777-300ER, marking the end of an era for long-haul twins that reshaped airline networks.

   (AviationA2Z)

6. Quirky: The Fall of Kodak — KillerCharts does a forensic dive on how a market titan missed its moment, a cautionary tale for today’s disruptors.

   (KillerCharts)

---

📣 Don’t forget:

The Professor’s Minute Minute → https://tinyurl.com/ynvpddfw

The OFFICIAL Professor Sabena Blog → https://tinyurl.com/j9x8cmhm

Explore the old archive → https://tinyurl.com/njj9z6p4

#Tags:

#Travel #Aviation #AirTrafficControl #AgenticAI #TravelTech #Boeing #777300ER #AirlineEconomics #Picasso

Style Verification: Thursday → Synthetic Cubism (bold colors, layered textures, collaged feel — reflecting big structural shifts in tech and aviation)

The Professor’s Minute Minute – September 24, 2025

France’s money mess, shared AI clones, Brussels airport mayhem, Canada’s data retreat, and tariff truths—plus a quirky twist on lost luggage theatre.

1. Why France can’t fix its finances

   Government spending, falling revenue, and structural rigidity keep France stuck in fiscal fog. KillerCharts breaks it down.

2. Google’s ‘Gems’: shareable AI assistants

   TechCrunch introduces “Gems”—your custom Gemini AI clones you can share. Great until your clone does something embarrassing.

3. Cyberattack disrupts Brussels flights

   Reuters reports a cyberattack at Brussels-Airport causing widespread delays and cancellations. Vulnerability of modern infrastructure on full display.

4. Canada backs off U.S. data sharing

   CBC notes a policy reversal: Canada eases up on data flow agreements with the U.S., citing privacy concerns and domestic backlash.

5. Tariffs are just stupid

   Another quiet truth from KillerCharts: tariffs distort supply chains, erode competitiveness, and seldom protect what they intend to.

6. Quirky: Cork Airport just unveiled a massive mural “The Wonder of Travel” — 180 square meters, painted on the southern facade of its short-term car park. It chronicles aviation’s early days and its modern era in vivid colour.(Cork Airport, “The Wonder of Travel” mural) 

📣 Don’t forget:

The Professor’s Minute Minute → https://tinyurl.com/ynvpddfw

The OFFICIAL Professor Sabena Blog → https://tinyurl.com/j9x8cmhm

Explore the old archive → https://tinyurl.com/njj9z6p4

#Tags:

#Travel #Aviation #Finance #AI #CyberSecurity #DataPrivacy #Tariffs #Innovation #Picasso

Sources:

• France finances: KillerCharts

• Google Gems: TechCrunch

• Brussels cyberattack: Reuters

• Canada data policy: CBC

• Tariff critique: KillerCharts

• Quirky: NZ luggage therapy spin-wheel program (NZ airport press release)

The Professor’s Minute Minute – September 23, 2025

Runway wins, Aegean shifts, baggage horror, ID wars, big M&A—and a mural that celebrates travel’s magic.

1. Gatwick gets its 2nd Runway approved

   A massive milestone for UK aviation — capacity relief, slot battles, and a fresh round of NIMBY complaints ahead.

   (The Times)

2. Aegean is moving

   Fleet, network, and strategy shifts at Greece’s flag carrier suggest a big pivot coming.

   (AirFinance Global)

3. Gruesome find at Tampa Airport

   Customs officers uncover human bones in a traveler’s luggage. A chilling reminder that airport security isn’t just theatre.

   (SimpleFlying)

4. UK Digital ID push

   Calls for a UK-wide Digital ID are intensifying; columnists say opposition is flimsy.

   (The Times)

5. Pro’s Holdings acquired by Thoma Bravo

   Major consolidation in travel tech — could reshape pricing and revenue management tools.

   (Morningstar)

6. Quirky: Cork Airport unveils a giant 180-square-meter mural titled “The Wonder of Travel,” a colorful ode to aviation’s past and present on the car park facade.

   (Cork Airport)

📣 Don’t forget:

The Professor’s Minute Minute → https://tinyurl.com/ynvpddfw

The OFFICIAL Professor Sabena Blog → https://tinyurl.com/j9x8cmhm

Explore the old archive → https://tinyurl.com/njj9z6p4

#Tags:

#Travel #Aviation #Gatwick #Airports #AegeanAirlines #DigitalID #TravelTech #MergersAndAcquisitions #AirportArt #Picasso

Style Verification: Wednesday → Analytical Cubism (fragmented, geometric, layered energy — a midweek “intellectual” feel) 

The Professor’s Minute Minute – September 22, 2025

Budget truth, patent shadows, Amex goes tech, regional come-back, fleet fine-tuning—and trivia for your airport IQ.

1. This is what the US budget actually looks like. FACTS!

   A rare, clear budget breakdown with allocations, trade-offs, and no political fluff.

   (Manage KMail Lists)

2. Patent risk in luggage tech

   PhocusWire reports a seed-funded luggage platform may be treading into IP grey zones.

3. Finally!!! Amex Travel app launches

   Amex rolls out a travel app combining booking, rewards, and servicing—one of the biggest upgrades since AXI.

4. Filling the regional void

   East Air, led by Alan Milne, takes on underserved markets. Will it succeed where others have failed?

5. Ryanair adjusts fleet across network

   MOL gets granular about fleet reshuffles to stay lean through 2025 and beyond.

6. Quirky: Trivia time: “What’s your airport code?” TTG’s travel trivia night will test even the most jaded road warriors.

   (TTG Media)

📣 Don’t forget:

The Professor’s Minute Minute → https://tinyurl.com/ynvpddfw

The OFFICIAL Professor Sabena Blog → https://tinyurl.com/j9x8cmhm

Explore the old archive → https://tinyurl.com/njj9z6p4

#Tags:

#Travel #Aviation #BudgetTruth #PatentLaw #Amex #RegionalAir #FleetManagement #AirportTrivia #Picasso

Sources:

• Manage KMail Lists – US Budget

• PhocusWire – Luggage IP risk

• BTN – Amex App

• TravelWeekly – East Air

• Aviation Week – Ryanair Fleet

• TTG Media – Airport Code Trivia

Style Verification: Sunday → Abstract Cubism (bold colors, layered energy)

Image tagline: A patchwork of overlapping travel shapes and blocks of color to mirror a week full of complexity and a touch of fun.

The Professor’s Minute Minute – September 21, 2025

 

I shall be at T2RL all this week. So normal service may be compromised.

Tariffs vanish (wishful thinking), startups face reality, Larry’s wallet expands, AI investments need boldness, Alaska’s staying power—and a little pain in the name of beauty.

1. Tariff-free aviation is better aviation

   Global aerospace leaders call for zero barriers at the summit. Tariffs do nothing but slow innovation and drive up costs.

   (Leeham News)

2. The startup “anti-pitch” you need to hear

   Andrew Chen’s brutally honest guide to what VCs are actually thinking when they pass. Founders, read it twice.

   (Andrew Chen)

3. Larry Ellison’s bank account expands again

   Oracle’s rise fuels Larry’s latest wealth surge—just in case he needs another island or another America’s Cup yacht.

   (KillerCharts)

4. Timid AI is wasted AI

   The Economist’s AI Innovation Asia warns: invest boldly or not at all. Small bets don’t move the needle in APAC.

   (The Economist)

5. Alaska stays on course

   Strong revenue performance and cost control keep Alaska a standout. Reliable doesn’t have to mean boring.

   (Aviation Week)

6. Quirky: Plucking, waxing, shaving—why does it hurt so much? The Washington Post explains the science of nerve endings and pain pathways.

   (Washington Post)

📣 Don’t forget:

The Professor’s Minute Minute → https://tinyurl.com/ynvpddfw

The OFFICIAL Professor Sabena Blog → https://tinyurl.com/j9x8cmhm

Explore the old archive → https://tinyurl.com/njj9z6p4

#Tags:

#Travel #Aviation #Trade #Startups #VC #LarryEllison #AI #AlaskaAirlines #Wellness #Picasso

Sources:

• Zero-tariff call: Leeham News

• Anti-pitch guide: Andrew Chen

• Ellison wealth surge: KillerCharts

• AI Innovation Asia: The Economist

• Alaska performance: Aviation Week

• Quirky: Washington Post

• Style Verification: Sunday → Abstract Cubism (bold color, layered energy) Image tagline: Abstract layers and bright hues capture the week’s mash-up of economics, innovation, and a bit of personal discomfort. 

The Professor’s Minute Minute – September 20, 2025

 

Tariffs out, startup wisdom in, Larry’s wallet fatter, timid AI gets roasted, Alaska’s momentum—and hair-raising science.

1. Aviation needs fewer barriers

   Global aerospace leaders reiterate the call: drop tariffs, boost trade, unlock innovation. When borders close, supply chains seize.

   (Leeham News)

2. Startup reality check

   Andrew Chen’s “Anti-Pitch” gives you the one-liners that VCs really think when they pass. If you’re raising money, read this first.

   (Andrew Chen Substack)

3. Larry Ellison’s wealth boom

   KillerCharts dissects the latest Oracle surge. Maybe time to upgrade the yacht—or the island.

   (KillerCharts)

4. Timid AI = wasted AI

   The Economist’s AI Innovation Asia argues: if your investment in AI is too small to be bold, you’re just lighting cash on fire.

   (The Economist)

5. Alaska Air stays strong

   Revenue momentum is solid despite cost pressure. Alaska continues to show the majors that disciplined ops matter.

   (Aviation Week)

6. Quirky: Shaving, plucking, waxing—why does it hurt more than a haircut? Washington Post explains it’s about nerve activation, not sadism.

   (Washington Post)

📣 Don’t forget:

The Professor’s Minute Minute → https://tinyurl.com/ynvpddfw

The OFFICIAL Professor Sabena Blog → https://tinyurl.com/j9x8cmhm

Explore the old archive → https://tinyurl.com/njj9z6p4

#Tags:

#Travel #Aviation #Trade #Startups #VC #LarryEllison #AI #AlaskaAirlines #Wellness #Picasso

Sources:

• Tariff commentary: Leeham News

• Startup anti-pitch: Andrew Chen

• Larry Ellison wealth surge: KillerCharts

• AI Innovation Asia: The Economist

• Alaska’s revenue trends: Aviation Week

• Quirky: Washington Post

Style Verification: Saturday → Synthetic Cubism

Image: Layered geometric collage: planes, dollar signs, Oracle logo fragment, startup pitch decks, AI circuit motifs, with a playful hint of hair strands.

The Professor’s Minute Minute – September 19, 2025

 

Hybrid jets, big dogs, faulty masks, thirsty crews, questionable projects — and snakes on planes.

1. “Satan’s Chariot” gets a hybrid upgrade

   SkyWest secures launch rights for Maeve’s hybrid-electric regional jet — and suddenly the future of small-city connectivity looks cleaner (and quieter).

   (Aviation Week)

2. Dogs in first class — literally

   An AA passenger found herself trapped by a 100-pound canine companion in the seat next to her. DOT might not cover “emotional support collisions.”

   (AviationA2Z)

3. FAA orders Boeing 787 inspections

   Faulty oxygen masks trigger a sweeping inspection directive. Boeing’s 787 headaches continue.

   (AviationA2Z)

4. Drinking on duty: not on this flight

   American Airlines flight attendants face discipline after passengers saw them sipping water during boarding. (Hydration ≠ dereliction.)

   (View From The Wing)

5. Another $250M boondoggle?

   The FAA and DOT’s proposed move may cost $250 million. The Air Current asks if it’s worth it.

   (The Air Current)

6. Quirky: Snakes on a plane — really. Virgin Australia expands its “Pets on a Plane” program. You can now bring reptiles onboard (cargo hold, please).

   (Travel Weekly)

📣 Don’t forget:

The Professor’s Minute Minute → https://tinyurl.com/ynvpddfw

The OFFICIAL Professor Sabena Blog → https://tinyurl.com/j9x8cmhm

Explore the old archive → https://tinyurl.com/njj9z6p4

#Tags:

#Travel #Aviation #HybridJets #SkyWest #Boeing787 #FAA #CabinCrew #PassengerExperience #VirginAustralia #Picasso

Sources:

• Maeve hybrid-electric RJ: Aviation Week

• Dog incident: AviationA2Z

• 787 inspections: AviationA2Z

• Flight attendant discipline: View From The Wing

• FAA/DOT relocation cost: The Air Current

• Quirky: Travel Weekly

Style Verification: Friday → Synthetic Cubism

Image: Overlapping layers — a dog silhouette and a plane, coiled snake shapes, a 787 nose outline, cabin silhouettes, with fragmented textural overlays.