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It's not really Boeing's money, they aren't a charity, any increase in the price of an aircraft gets passed on to airlines (and from the airlines to passengers)

If unlimited safety improvements are required without regard to cost, it could drive the cost of the aircraft so high that airlines can't afford to upgrade, so they keep their older fleet in service for longer. Which works for a while, but airframes do age and need to be retired.

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That's only true if Boeing was the only manufacturer that builds this category of planes (they are not).

Boeing has an issue in their planes that the A350 doesn't have. So if the price of 787's goes up because it needs to go from unsafe to safe, then airlines can buy A350s instead.

Or they can buy the 787-10 with the Rolls Royce engine that is already certified. (Check out the article!)

In this case, the problem is with the engine, not with the plane, and the alternative engine is already approved and in service.

Smaller increases in cost also result in some passengers choosing alternate modes of transportation (for example, driving) which are invariably less safe.

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