"Really?"
Yes.
I was incorrect only in stating "payroll for flight crews" - air carriers' highest financial liabilities are fuel, followed by employee (not just flight crew), salaries/benefits/costs. Flight crews are (or used to be) a substantial portion of the category. Fuel costs are about 5 to 10% higher than employee costs.
This does not take into account training costs & other costs associated with maintaining crews in cockpits.
Take a look at the financial statements of air carriers; many are available online. Airports/costs are way down the list.