DO people honestly believe that that MAN's management teams are not doing their best to get more passenger routes? For all we know, they are spending thousands of pounds trying to impress airlines to come here but if the airlines aren't willing to come, then it's not MAN's fault!
Not forgetting that each alliance does not seem to be advocating more spoke-hub flying from the regions; specifically for oneworld, would you trust BA to act in MAN's (read North of England) interests should any other member of that alliance want to start service here given their past record of objecting whenever possible and route everyone on the shuttle?
The advent of the 787/A350 may enable some former long-haul routes to be restarted (even if not with the original airline but a subsidiary!). Most of the Euro routes I'd love to see started would be better off operating with 100 seaters - the 737 with 148 seats (or A319 with 156 seats) may be a tad too big so airlines have to price the tickets too low for initial sales.
For Flybe, I think the best we can hope for is for some route stabilisation with slight tinkering over the next year with a view to having moderate expansion from 2009 onwards.