[QUOTE=LAX_LHR;9813461
It's true T3 space is at a premium now, but Ryanair are still growing at MAN, new routes to Cologne, Seville, Frankfurt and Kiew alone this winter.[/QUOTE]
I guess the question as far as summer is concerned is: if parking at T3 and morning slots were not an issue at MAN, how many a/c would RYR choose to base at MAN, and how does that compare with what they are actually doing (is it 9 or 10 based?). Further, if there is a difference between the two, to what extent is the restriction being compensated with more flights by non-based a/c at quieter periods of the day?
Two other factors to consider perhaps:- my impression is that flybe have less based a/c than they used to, probably in part because they want early arrivals into MAN from other airports to feed their own connecting flights and also for transfer to long haul flights on airlines with which they code share.
Presumably, AA will at some stage be moving to the extended T2 (assuming their operations at MAN don't change). This could free up some space after 07.00 at T3 depending on whether some other airlines switch from T1 to T3.
The issue of long term plans for T3 is though of great interest.