I think everyone would applaud QF for working on a new route, but there have been so many withdrawn routes and slots to London (especially Europe!! and that's ignoring the debacle SIN/DXB/SIN mess that gave away large numbers of Qf's premium passengers) that PER-LHR can hardly be seen to have 'added' anything to QF's pax numbers. It defies belief that you can swap a 747 for a 787 and 'expand' at the same time.
I also think it's VERY fair to point out that the enormous numbers of Dixon ordered 787's that QF is taking on the world with, is hardly likely to send any opposition airline into a cowering frenzy of fear.