I think post Covid the direct flights will be in demand.
A good start would be a hub out of Darwin direct to the UK and Europe with Current 787s.
Im sure Qantas could invest in the infrastructure required in Darwin and purchase a large share if not 50% in the Airport so at least some of the fees go back to QF group, unlike the debacle in Perth.
We need to learn from the Covid Crisis that keeping as much as possible in Australia is the best thing we can do for Jobs and Australia, time to forgo some of the greedy penny pinching for sky-high profits at the expense of Australia.
Im not sure of the technical nature of the possible payloads from DRW to LHR though .