That in itself is a good sign. Low fares and less safety are not twins. Electronic ticketing, no travel agent commissions and not serving meals cut costs without skimping on maintenance. The numbers say no. The ValuJet crash was the first fatal accident for a start-up since airline deregulation in 1978.
Common sense says maybe.
Crew members of start-ups have had little time to become comfortable with each other, much less go through emergency training with the officer in the next seat. If a start-up has grown rapidly, adding service to several new cities simultaneously, management of scheduling and maintenance is further complicated. Add a fleet of older aircraft to the mix and the potential for mishaps, say experts, simply is greater than for an established carrier. A plane's age sounds like a concern. Older planes per se are not a problem.