This week’s issue of PlaneBusiness Banter is now posted. Subscribers can access it here.

What are we talking about in this week’s issue?

US Airways/United Airlines merger chatter leads off the issue. My column this week takes on the latest “leak” that clearly came from the United side of the house. We talk about why that was probably the case — and then take on the pros and cons of a US Airways/United Airlines merger. Again.

I talk about how Continental Airlines fits into all this as well, and why, if I were Continental, I’d be very happy to sit on the sidelines and enjoy the perks of the United/Continental partnership. Not to mention CAL’s new membership in the Star Alliance.

We give you the first quarter stock performance review this week. The top performing airline stock for the first quarter was somewhat of a surprise, but the two airlines behind number one were not a surprise.

We also give our usual monthly rundown of the latest DOT Airline Consumer Travel Report numbers. A hint: February was a nasty month for weather-related cancellations. Especially for Comair. What the heck happened up there in Cincinnati anyway?

Looks like Ryanair is serious about their “Fee for Pee” plan. Meanwhile British Airways has submitted a new offer to leaders of its cabin crew union.

All this and much more in this week’s issue.