Rammel, you have a good point with regards to the 747. QF for some reason, whilst developing a healthy business over the past 10 years, missed a great opportunity with the 777 in particular. They have the 330, of which proved somewhat unreliable at times and half of which have been temporarily offloaded onto JQ. But the 330 is certainly very efficient when it is running!
Tropical chief, it is important to keep in mind that the people serving you on those 'full service' Asian airlines are earning about one third the legal Australian minimum wage, as are the people working at their airports, cleaning and repairing their aircraft. Why do you think SQ keeps buy new aircraft? Those carriers you mention did fly to CNS (until 2000-02), but none made money in order to justify continuing. There is not the market in CNS. Traffic is all one way, then tourists either arrive or depart from a main center. These carriers also have additional benefits of being able to hub from all over the world (good geographic location) into Oz, including big markets in Europe and Asia. Even with poor wages, lower costs, newer more efficient aircraft and hub ability, they still couldnt make it work! So how would we expect QF to make it work with higher paid staff and old 767 aircraft make it profitable?? Remember with CX the route is shared with BNE and its a joint route with their alliance partner...Cathay! You dont normally compete one on one with your alliance partners on such a route.
If we consider the Wester Carriers...how many fly to Australia? BA low frequency to main centres, UA twice a day only and thats about it. How many mainline USA carriers operate long haul Int flights from a city of 150,000 people?
As for JQ not everyone will want to travel on a low cost airline for sure, but its one's own choice. Yes the Japanese are quite brand orientated, but as far as second rate goes, Im not so sure. Certainly you only get what you pay for, but JQ were just named (Skytrax) best cabin crew service in Aust/NZ of all airlines here.
Are the loads light on JQ that you say they wont take it up??
Good luck with flights into and out of CNS.