As someone on the shortlist myself, I'm also feeling a wee bit anxious for any news!
What I do know (from reading these and other forums) is this...btw, I can't guarantee this is all fact, so as with anything we read here, take it with a pinch of salt...:
* QF has recently spent $47m on purchasing two slots into London Heathrow, to introduce new Sydney-New Delhi-London and Sydney-Shanghai-London routes. These have to be taken up by June - or they lose them.
* US Flying will be at pre-9/11 schedules shortly - when I have no idea...
* There is a lot of discussion between Short Haul and Long Haul re: A330 flying. Deliveries of the A330 haven't been deferred or delayed, so one must assume (even with the withdrawal of the 767-200 a/c) that something must be happening soon.
* QF are also (apparently) shopping around for a few second hand 747-400's - for the purpose of flying these new routes.
* QF also recently announced the inauguration of BNE-LAX direct services three times a week (presumeably not at the full expense of BNE-AKL-LAX services).
Fingers crossed all shortlisters hear some good news real soon!