Globespan never even got the MAN-JNB off the ground. It was cancelled prior to launch.
You lot are like stuck records 'they tried it and failed', 'they tried it and failed'! So by that measure, nothing would ever progress at Manchester, or any other airport. What may not have worked in 1997 with fuel inefficient a/c doen't really apply today.
Someone said TP and IB are concentrating on hubs; correct, but they need feeds into these hubs! A hub is useless without its spokes....just ask BA at LHR.
As regards MAD, Air Europa might be an option with one of their efficient E190s.