Subsidy or smart business?

From the bottom of this article in the New York Times:

Smaller airports — which suffered a loss of traffic after Sept. 11, 2001 — like Allegiant. Springfield-Branson National Airport in Springfield, Mo., helped attract Allegiant by allowing it to pay to use airport employees as needed, rather than hire its own full-time employees to run the ticket counter and to load bags, a spokesman for the airport, Kent Boyd, said.

Would one consider this a cross-subsidy to the airline, or is it simply smart business on Allegiant Air's part?

MODERATOR'S NOTE:

Moved to General Discussion, Railroad Operations forum.

While a very interesting business finance/public policy question, it has no direct tie to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation.

This is the General Discussion, Commuter & Transit forum FTR. Commuter trains, subways and light rail don't compete against airlines…