Paying to fly is nothing new. Here in the states lots of companies Whore themselves to get lowtimers paying to make them money. Problem is how else are some of these folks going to get time..
Its a matter of economics, not morals. If you think that money is not the motive of ANY company your in real trouble. People are just a tool to facilitate the end result.
Dont know that I would be paying anyone upfront these days. Seems it just goes to feed the lawyers when the companies go under and the owners have all their Duckets hidden somewhere.