Originally Posted by
dsc810
...and their customers are exactly the same
They know the low cost cheap flights risk a monumental mess up every now and then that leaves them stranded for XX hours in some ghastly place
But they also just hope the odds work in their favour and its not them that get caught.
Its the same everywhere: people complaining how some corporate is cutting services or not doing it "properly" while the same complainers are busy bodging up their electrics, roof, guttering whatever and hope the next purchaser does not notice.
The airline "customers" are often not those flying at all, but corporate central beancounter staff making bookings for their staff on what is the cheapest fare to the destination, regardless of other considerations. The staff actually flying end up just stuck with the choice. Certain carriers have made a whole market out of this ...
Some corporates are better at this than others. There is a general belief that oil companies, well used to very substantial Due Diligence of their helicopter operators, let this approach go through to the comercial airline bookings for their staff as well, who to use and who not. Others not so much. It's notable that a significant number of the Ethiopian passengers were travelling for a major worldwide organisation, who possibly procure their air tickets centrally.