The Kiwi's manage to do it.
Absolutely they do. And from my understanding that is because the NZ Federal Government undertakes all screening and security operations and shares costs around the network.
They do not expect individual airports to individually find solutions and be responsible for all infrastructure, equipment and staffing costs.
All the Government did here was make a lot of regionals spend a lot of money on terminal modifications and equipment purchases and then have to enter staffing and maintenance contracts with the providers.
This money has to come from somewhere, and it's the passenger who pays.
Meanwhile pax want to pay the same amount for a ticket they were paying in 1980.
I don't know how any regional makes money these days. But 'link seem to.