I see the daily figures for the routes and I'm fairly confident that RNS Propps the load factor up.
I know CFR showed good growth but good% growth on a low basic load factor still leds to a low load factor.
I'm willing to be surprised by MAN. travel from the NW to the SE (excl london) is hellish. 5+ hrs by road, similar by train and expensive by train and requiring at least 3 journeys. And a domestic link between two very large population areas. Add in potential for connections through the MAN hub (which despite proximity to London will be driven by price) and it might work.
Time will tell I guess