Yes, you've tried it correctly but that's sadly due to the current high ethereum fee
https://ethgasstation.info/All transactions currently are quiet expensive, I hope that there'll be some better time!
if indeed you intend to make an airdrop it means you also have to be prepared with gas, if we have to pay for gas it means not an airdrop
Airdrop is free and doesn't cost anything
That's not true, you in much cases have to claim Airdrops yourself. The price is the ethereum fee which I do not profit from but is simply a requirement in the ethereum blockchain.
If that's not an airdrop for you then, then it's your opinion.