NEW ENTRANTS AND SAFETY. CHAPTER 9 OF TRANSPORTATION SAFETY IN AN AGE OF DEREGULATION

This chapter examines the safety record of new entrants into the airline industry since the passage of the Airline Deregulation Act of 1970, in an attempt to determine whether or not airline deregulation has affected airline safety. The premise that is explored is that new airlines entering the market since the passage of the act might have a poorer safety record than existing airlines. Airline records examined included information on maintenance expenditures, FAA safety inspection results, near midair collisions, and aircraft accidents. It was concluded that there was no difference between the safety records of established airlines and airlines created since deregulation; and if it is found that airline safety has decreased since deregulation, it is not due to the new airline entrants.