Recall a number of DPS sectors with business class well patronized. Have even seen it full on back of clock ops.
Probably because it was discounted J class...or people using their velocity points. The leisure market is far too price sensitive to pay big bucks for the pointy end..
Why fork out big bucks for J class when with the same airfare, you could probably upgrade your hotel at Bali and just travel in the back..
but if you pack it full of business people outta MEL to SIN/HKG...
As for VS and VA on the HKG route, who knows.. who would have thought that they were able to use the name 'Virgin' internationally after talking to Uncle Choong... I'm sure if the idea is sold to VS, they'd jump onboard with the idea of doing LHR/HKG only....