Elephant and Castle you and I refer to different sectors of the market. You are correct inasmuch as some will tend to the spending pattern to which you refer.
Some others will fly to and from Malaga for a tenner each way , do not park at the airport or anywhere, don't buy anything within the airport or on the aircraft and quite possibly have private accommodation arrangements at foreign destination. These are not air travel clientele of commercial first choice but they do exist, the question is in what numbers ?
If the very low cost option is not available from time to time these travellers will not move.......hence fewer aircraft and pilots required.