Cheapest bidder always wins.
The PIC was also the owner of the charter operation.
Chances are the rate that got them the job was on or below the red line.
He's going to do whatever he can to drag some kind of profit out of this charter.
The results we now know.
A few days ago 74 construction workers were killed in China. Same deal. The scaffolding contractor most likely got the job because he was the cheapest bidder.
71 passengers and crew are now dead for what could well be the same reason.
When will business learn that "the cheapest bidder" is never the right way to go?