Yeah I'd heard the 350 'wasnt out of the running'
Maybe medium to long term but not in the time frame the 787 is being considered. There are many people working on 787 introduction already in terms of galleys, training paths, engineering, etc. There is no one looking at introducing an A350 for the same specific things.
Beyond 2020 though? That's where it gets interesting.
However in terms of a 744 replacement, it's helpful to remember this info posted by rjtjrt all the way back on page 11.
777-300ER---7,825nmi – PAX 386 in 3 class config
777-200LR---8,625nmi – PAX 314 in 3 class config
777-200ER---7,510nmi – PAX 314 in 3 class config
777-8X ------9,300nmi – PAX 350
777-9X------ 8,200nmi – PAX 400
787-8---------7,850nmi – PAX 242 in 3 class config
787-9---------8,300nmi – PAX 280 in 3 class config
787-10--------7,020nmi – PAX 323 in 3 class config
A330-200-----7,300nmi – PAX 247 in 3 class config
A330-300---- 6,300nmi – PAX 277 in 3 class config
A350-800-----8,200nmi – PAX 280 in 3 class config
A350-900-----7,600nmi – PAX 322 in 3 class config
A350-1000----7,900nmi – PAX 366 in 3 class config
By Range
777-8X-------9,300nmi – PAX 350
777-200LR---8,625nmi – PAX 314 in 3 class config
787-9--------8,300nmi – PAX 280 in 3 class config
777-9X-------8,200nmi – PAX 400
A350-800----8,200nmi – PAX 280 in 3 class config
A350-1000---7,900nmi – PAX 366 in 3 class config
787-8---------7,850nmi – PAX 242 in 3 class config
777-300ER---7,825nmi – PAX 386 in 3 class config
A350-900-----7,600nmi – PAX 322 in 3 class config
777-200ER----7,510nmi – PAX 314 in 3 class config
A330-200------7,300nmi – PAX 247 in 3 class config
787-10---------7,020nmi – PAX 323 in 3 class config
A330-300-------6,300nmi – PAX 277 in 3 class config
The A350 doesn't seem to fit the metrics that Qantas is after. The 777X (particularly the 8X) does though.
SYD- JFK 8646 nm
SYD- SCL 6135 nm
SYD- LHR 9188 nm
SYD- DXB 6500 nm
SYD- FRA 8906 nm
MEL- DFW 7814 nm
MEL- YVR 7118 nm
MEL- ORD 8397 nm
MEL- JFK 9015 nm
MEL- LHR 9127 nm
BNE- DFW 7216 nm
BNE- YVR 6388 nm
BNE- JFK 8374 nm
I'm not sure the A350 has a place in that route structure if you've already bought the 787-9. My predictions is that the A380 will be off DFW before 2020 and the 787 will be doing it either twice daily out of Sydney or one each from Sydney and Melbourne. Maybe even 777X out of Sydney and 787 ex MEL.