Dozy, I think that if the legal liability, and hence the insurance costs, are included in the “market” place for airline X, X may not be cheapest after all. This would depend upon somebody persuading the insurers of the x-type risks, and providing enough quantitative data for actuaries or assessors to put a price on it, but insurers are a conservative lot and price highly for unknown elements.
(Edited to add – In fact, when the legal costs are finally added up for Air France, I would not be at all surprised if the savings in training with no manual flying at cruise altitude, lack of UAS comprehension, poor CRM etc. are exceeded by the costs.)
Last edited by chrisN; 21st Jul 2012 at 01:48.