If I had to get somewhere in a hurry, I would not hesitate to saddle up and go! My infrequent flying excursions have a negligible effect on the industry. The public phobia about flying comes from the media sensationalizing the subject when something bad happens. I am not saying that ignoreing it altogether will make tragic circumstances disappear either! The airline industry like all big business ventures is profit or possibly greed driven and the board of directors generally only care about the bottom line.
There are fixed costs involved in operating a large and expansive business like an airline. Expendable items like fuel,food,replacement parts engines etc. have to be included because things break and wear out. Passengers ultimately have to choose to use your services and perceptions carefully play into a carrier's longevity. Media critics many times fail to verify their sources before reporting on things like crashes when they occur and in many cases they voluntarily or ignorantly make assumptions that may or may not apply.
Do I enjoy flying ...NO! The flying experience is in my estimation a voluntary game of russian roulette not induced by the media or anything else conspiratorial in nature. Its just that since 9/11 none of us here will ever view things in the same way before it happened. The industry may never fully recover its financial footing partly due to acknowledged bad management in the industry and partly because our trust has been shattered and we never reall know who might have been missed on a pre-boarding inspection at the terminal.
It doesn't take a brainiac to tell you things are different nowdays; its a calculated risk these days because you really don't know who is sitting next to you!
You never did know who was sitting next to you and how many times did you die before? Just asking because I know many will read your post and think roulette-you know, he's right! Truth is, it's safer to fly than drive.