jabird,
I've worked in airline operations/navigation depts where, on occasions, there have been operations in/out of less than optimum airfields and there are two ways that things may be planned:
1. Worst case scenario: All passengers are male, the heavier of the species, all have their maximum baggage allowance of perhaps 15KG or 20KG, the runway will be wet with still air conditions and the flight will have en-route still air or headwind conditions.
2. Best case scenario to attain improved seat sales and/or route development: 50% of the passengers will be female, the lighter of the species, also throw a percentage of ankle biters in to the seat sales, whilst allowed perhaps 15KG of baggage they'll only be carrying 12.5KG, there will be a definite headwind down a dry runway and the flight will have en-route still air or tailwind conditions.
As you may imagine if one cuts corners one comes unstuck from time to time, of course there is another option:
3. Forget all of the above and operate from the airport just up the road.