DC3 Dave
Having spent three years working with CFR management to get the SEN-CFR route to become a reality I still keep in touch with them. The trouble is that Stobart are concentrating on achieving their 2.5 mppa target for SEN and see a MAN route as producing far greater numbers than GRQ or CFR ever will.
It's not just sour grapes but I have my doubts about SEN-MAN. In order for it to work they will have to attract large numbers who want to connect with Flybe routes onward from MAN. It's one thing to be able to do this from, say, EXT but other LON airports offer direct flights to most of those destinations already so how large is that market going to prove for SEN?
Interesting times lie ahead certainly.