ATNotts
I agree that for NUE, daily may be slightly too high, and could see a reduction to 4/5 weekly in time.
However, I'm not sure why you have focused on leisure to measure the potential of the route?
There are many business links to the area too, and as we know, company travel is no longer the reserve of the 'legacy' airlines. You said yourself that had you still been in the business you used to be in, you yourself would have used the route. Surely that says something, if your example could be replaced across the north west, Midlands and possibly even up to Scotland?
I'm not saying the route will be a resounding success, on,y time will judge that one, however, let's not wrote it off before it's even begun. Ryanair are a huge airline, they are not stupid and would have done their homework.