Good evening earthlings. This week’s edition of PlaneBusiness Banter is now posted.

While yours truly enjoys her digs in Chicago this week, as I hang with the folks at the American Travel Marketing Executives Conference and United Airlines, there is a lot going on in my usual environs down in the DFW Metromess.

This week I tell you why I think the board of the Allied Pilots Association will vote this week to send a contract proposal between it and American Airlines out for a vote. I explain why this does not mean that the APA no longer supports a merger deal with US Airways. And, I also talk about why, if you are a drama queen, you will certainly like July. We ain’t seen nothin’ yet folks.

In our AMR Bankruptcy Follies column this week, I take a look at two recent articles/editorials in the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram. We are not impressed when people who should know better treat a complex bankruptcy situation with such obvious disregard for the facts.

Meanwhile, downunder, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce was yelling loud and clear last week about the dangers of Etihad buying into Virgin Australia. While usually I listen to these types of complaints with a very skeptical ear — in this case Joyce may have a good point. Etihad could, if it wanted, purchase 100% of Virgin Australia. But Qantas is limited in how much foreign investment it can accept.

No doubt about it. Australia has become a hugely competitive market — both in terms of its international routes and on the domestic front.

In our email bag this week, we’re talking about whether or not yet another suitor could come out of the woods for American Airlines, and we discuss the potential for further changes in the United Airlines‘ C-Suite.

On Wall Street last week, airline stocks frolicked, as the price of both crude oil and jet fuel dropped dramatically. Who were the biggest gainers? We’ll let you know.

All this, and more, in this week’s issue of PlaneBusiness Banter.