Re PJ2's comments:
government's increasing complicity especially post-deregulation in the late 80's, in enabling the legal circumstances under which shareholder value and corporate profit have singularly governed the approach to corporate behaviours over the past three decades. To the exclusion of all other values, this is how business these days is conducting itself and airlines are no exception. While shortcuts in aviation are not new, there is a brashness and robustness to cost-control which is, in my view, inappropriate to the tasks at hand in aviation.
I htink PJ is shining a light on what is fast becoming the prime (yet oft hidden) contributing factor to a vast array of accidents and incidents.
Though this may seem to be "off thread" in the specific sense, it is on topic in the general sense (of contributing factors to this accident).
I am currently involved in various types of aviation safety assessments in many diverse parts of the world (including Europe, North America, Asia and Africa). I can say with no hesitation that what PJ alludes to is as widespread as civil aviation itself. From airport operators building fancy new terminals whilst their operational infrastructure (runways, nav aids, etc.) are not up to standard; to ANSP's refusing to staff enough controllers or install needed equipment whilst engaging in "revenue generation" activities; to air carriers providing inadequate ongoing training to air crew, and exerting pressure to always operate on time. All of the above exist in ALL areas of the globe.
There are many reasons (IMO) for this current lack of balance between "production" and "protection" (profit v/s safety) but overall there is a direct relationship to the composition and philosophy of the senior management and Boards of Directors of today's "commercialised" entities.
We are all partisans.
I'd be happy to explore this discussion further on the safety forum.