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

This week we are talking about ….what else? The latest chapter in the United Airlines/Continental/US Airways mating dance.

Do we think anything has changed? What do we think is going to happen?

We also talk about the press release that Southwest Airlines issued Friday pertaining to its now-dead codeshare agreement with WestJet.

As our PlaneBusiness Brown Bag Analyst told PBB subscribers two weeks ago — this was all about New York. More on all that in this week’s issue.

Then, of course, there is that little problem of all that volcanic ash that is now making its way slowly over the UK and much of Europe. Volcanic ash and jet engines — not a good combination. For much of Europe, and all of the UK, air travel has effectively stopped altogether, although there were a few “test” flights that went up today — in an attempt to “measure” the level of ash in the atmosphere.

Right.

Meanwhile today Pratt and Whitney issued the following statement:

“Volcanic ash can damage aircraft and engines in several ways. P&WC encourages operators to refer to their airframe OEMs guidance on a potential volcanic ash encounter for additional information.

While P&WC acknowledges that the Local Regulatory Authority has the final determination of whether flight operation is to be conducted, we want to inform you, our customers, of potential hazards.

P&WC does not recommend operation in conditions where volcanic ash is present. Let us explain why.

Volcanic ash may clog air filters of turbine engines, block cooling air passages, erode the gas path components, and erode the protective paint on casings. Volcanic ash entering the engine can also melt in the combustor and then re-solidify on the static turbine vanes, potentially choking the turbine airflow and leading to surging and an in-flight shut-down. It is also noted that there is a high level of acidity associated with volcanic ash, and this may also lead to deterioration of engine components.”

Airline stocks had a pretty good week this week, but oil was positively volatile. Then there was the news of the SEC fraud case against Goldman Sachs. Oh boy. This is just the small tiny piece of what is going to be a very ugly iceberg. We tell you why.

And finally, in addition to all the other things we talk about this week — there is this major news.

This week we award, for only the second time in 14 years, a PlaneBusiness Wild Turkey Award to an airline CEO who we think has done an outstanding job in leading his employees and managing his airline. No hints. You’ll have to go find out who it is somewhere else.

And yes, the award is named in honor of you know who.