Most of the US "union-busting regional airlines" are as simple to start as described, since a major arranges the financing and marketing/ticket sales. Well, they existed until the "1,500 hour rule", and most ran out of pilots and are gone by now.
Or a one-plane vacation charter.
It becomes much more complicated as the number of bases and planes multiply.
And if you get sloppy or unlucky, one or two crashes is enough to end even national carriers like Malaysia Airlines, regardless of who is at fault.
There are clever airline founders who serially start multiple successful airlines, so there is some mgmt. talent involved.
Or a one-plane vacation charter.
It becomes much more complicated as the number of bases and planes multiply.
And if you get sloppy or unlucky, one or two crashes is enough to end even national carriers like Malaysia Airlines, regardless of who is at fault.
There are clever airline founders who serially start multiple successful airlines, so there is some mgmt. talent involved.
Source: commercially-rated airplane pilot.