What kind of impact are low-cost airlines having on aviation safety?
S.M.: According to the statistics they dont influence safety in any negative way. In fact, low-cost airlines as we have them now are as safe as so-called high-cost or network airlines. Safety is a matter of culture and not about spending millions of dollars. In Switzerland we had a safety audit after two accidents in this country. The audit came to the conclusion that the only low-cost airline we had at that time, [Crossair], was the safest. So you cant say that low-cost equals dangerous. Mr. Moser insists that “safety is a matter of culture.” I am inclined to defer to the experts, even if the BBC is not. Consumer Reports Travel Editor Bill McGee insisted in 2002: [Low-Cost Airlines] have to meet the same FDA standards as the big carriers. Also, because they are smaller, they are generally able to incorporate new safety requirements quicker. Noting the strong cultural stance and adamant regulatory requirements towards safety, several questions still remain for economists. What is the a
