Let’s see if this works this week. I never could get Movable Type to behave itself last week. I hope it refrains from giving me fits again. I have better things to do.

Oh, hello! This week’s issue of PlaneBusiness Banter is now posted. Finally!

As I tell subscribers this week, our publishing schedule is going to be a bit, er, erratic for the next six weeks or so as yours truly hits the road. Or, more accurately, the skies. Conferences, presentations, and more conferences.

But hey, it beats sitting on the chair at the Worldwide Headquarters. I think subscribers benefit when I am out and about.

This weekend I travel to Orlando, where I will attend that wonderful gathering of testosterone and airplanes — the ISTAT Americas Conference. The next week? I’ll be presenting at a meeting of Travelport’s best clients out in San Diego.

Meanwhile, this week we have a lot to talk about. First, we wrap up the 4Q earnings parade of planes as we do an in-depth look at the results reported last week by Republic Holdings.

We also review and compare the 4Q 2012 break-even load factors and operating expenses for the sector. Bottomline? These charts simply reinforce how horrible United Airlines’ fourth quarter results were.

On the US Airways/American front, we have so much news I can’t begin to go over it all. In addition, yours truly spoke last weekend at the Association of Professional Flight Attendants Convention in Fort Lauderdale. It was a blast.

Then there was the JPMorgan Transportation Conference in New York this week. There were some interesting tidbits to come out of the conference, including a statement from Southwest Airline’s CFO Tammy Romo as to whether or not “Bags Fly Free” is an important recognized part of the airline’s brand. She says no. I disagree.

We also talk about the latest research report from Bob McAdoo at Imperial Capital. This one is on US Airways, and is basically a follow-up to Bob’s excellent report on American a couple of years ago. Short and sweet? The airline’s costs were never the problem. It was the airline’s inability to produce revenues.

PBB fans know I’ve been touting exactly the same sentiment for years.

Bob feels strongly that most people don’t understand that the true value to this merger is in the expertise and ability of the management team that is coming in — that of US Airways. The “Doug and Scott” synergies.

All of this, in addition to turtles mating on the beach, pigs flying, and photon showers — in this week’s issue of PlaneBusiness Banter.