If they are able to fill it up, both ways, for 361 days of the year, or even 300 days of the year and are running at over 90% load factor then the route is a likley a success.
4 days with reduced load, one way, is hardly an issue.
Yes the route is a stretch but surely we should be encouraging some enterprising thinking rather than deciding it’s all too hard.
Sure, the 789 is not best suited to the route range-wise but that’s the type they have a tonne of on order at a cheap price. A 777 or 350 may be too large a pax load for the route.
So perhaps when you take into account the unit price, highly premium config and the expected market for the route, the 789 might be the best possible aircraft and you just have to wear the fact it’s a bit tight on range.
I, for one, am glad they chose to give it a go rather than said don’t bother it’s all too hard.
For all QF management’s failings we should still support attempts to open up new, unique route options. Let’s hope there are more new routes, however tight.