@flybill - No, I was saying that it was lack of competition on NOC-EDI that allows BE to charge higher fares on that route than they could on LDY-MAN (and believe me, they do) and therefore maintain the route.
I'd agree with your other points, NOC-MAN is a long established route under baby and should continue to do well for flybe.
If I was a regional airline operator looking for a route out of LDY, I'd leave MAN alone. Maybe Gatwick might be the best bet. Competition with FR at Stansted obviously, but a huge market to tap into also.