One can operate an airline under strict regulations and still have an accident.
There are airlines that follow the rules, and have a safety culture that makes them do more (and pay more) than expected to increase their chances... and then, there are the "others" who say "if I comply with the minimums" I'm a safe company.
I would compare this with a common daily driving decision: shall I go via the highway (and pay a toll) or do I follow the regular road? (They are both safe, if we comply with traffic rules...) I live a 175km away from the airport, and I always take the highway...(those 9,90€ I pay for each side, are a small cost, when compared with the risk of having a car accident...)