The reality:
Even if Qantas orders 787’s or 777’s, by the time they arrive, it is very unlikely they will be able to use them to establish new international routes. They will only be able to compete with existing carriers.
It is kind of ironic (some would say amusing) that the carrier that founded its success on Australia’s geographic isolation is now being hurt by it. Of course they will have to pull out of long haul ports when the only aircraft they send on the route is the B744!!! There is simply too much competition using more appropriate aircraft with lower cost bases. The idea QF can go back and re-establish itself in these places profitably in years to come is hilarious. You snooze, you lose.
The Asian carriers to the north are geographically positioned to become posterchild’s for Boeings “point to point” theory of the future. QF should have ordered the 777 and introduced A330 long haul services a very long time ago to at least delay being squeezed out of the European marketplace.
With carriers like Air Asia making even the “backyard” difficult, let’s all now watch “Australian Airlines” get thrown all the marginal Asian routes while Qantas retreats even further whilst still remaining the “most profitable airline in the world”.
All that begins has an end.