Here's that link (hopefully) to that FT article. It may cut out now as it requires registration.
Unfortunately the Analyst from the Centre for Aviation was rather less upbeat with his comments about MAN, unless the FT only selected certain negative extracts to put balance to the article. As well as the lower percentage growth figures, he mentions the lack of First Class pax and makes this statement which may or may not be valid, or only partially true. It's a perception or situation that MAN will be keen to change.
"He said many regional airports, such as Newcastle, would rather support connecting routes to Amsterdam and Heathrow rather than long haul from Manchester".
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/13bfe106-8...6bf20cc2b.html
Oh, and apparently Davies forecast MAN would be 26m pax in 2020. It would be rather splendid if it could reach that figure in 2017. Mind you, he wasn't too accurate about LGW either.