In modern society, many perceive the concepts of earning profit and retaining ethics as being mutually exclusive. For example, in this article, the question of whether or not commercial airlines should fly over conflict zones is raised. From a moral perspective, the decision is to avoid flying in dangerous areas, as the safety of the passengers and flight crew should come first. However, the chances of an accident occurring are slim, and flying over these zones will lead to a shorter route, which would save both time and money.
I believe that with the MH17 incident as a precedent, airline companies should raise their safety standard and avoid any areas that impose a certain amount of risk. While consumers do have freedom of choice regarding purchasing tickets, it is unfair to expect passengers to have the adequate amount of knowledge to know all the risks involved with flying a certain route. It should be the airline’s responsibility to use their expertise to protect the passengers to the best of their ability. After all, not only is the safety of everyone on the plane at stake, but the reputation of the company too. For example, Malaysia Airlines has experienced significant financial loss and a decline in ticket sales due to their negative public image. Hence, companies may favor profitable business strategies, but often, it is the choices that are ethic-driven that ultimately bring more success to the company, proving that balancing ethics and profit may be the best strategy of all.