Is it a preference for Star Alliance with MAN passengers that make this route such a success compared to OneWorld and their inability to make MAN-MAD-The Americas work?
I raised this discussion on the BHX thread; the fact that IB never even advertised the route shows how un-committed they were to it. I realise the Spanish economy isn't in the best shape at the moment but TAP are obviously proving the business is there; A319's are bigger to fill than the CRJ's and their South American network isn't nearly as big as Iberia's.
With the closure of bmibaby I'd love to see TAP pick up BHX-LIS; from what I gather the loads have been good and that's just on O&D so with connections and perhaps a little *Alliance feed I'm sure this route could work well for them just as it is at MAN.