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OK.
Always within regulations, the cut-price airlines (which is what I was referring to by the term "new airlines" because the other "new" ones are just mergers) are shaving costs by getting around proper maintenance and safety precautions. They are "assisted" in this endeavor by cutting down on various supporting jobs and hiring some mechanic and pilot jocks/hot shots, who are then encouraged to engage in cowboy acts.
The Helios Airline tragedy last week was, it appears, the outcome of such practices.
The upshot (for the company) is that the plane leaves on time -- and flies cheaply.
Meantime, stodgy old foggies such as British Airways or Qantas will delay a plane for an hour making sure.
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Eh? Southwest is the safest US carrier with 0 fatalities since it started operation in 1974 (9.5 million flights!). No other major US carrier (nor British Airways, with about 2/3rds the flights of Southwest) can say the same.
http://www.airsafe.com/airline.htm