Last time there were hearings on Transpac capacity (Sept 2008), the Australian gov't estimated that an additonal 51,000 tourists would arrive there and spend AUD 150 million if there was an additional daily service; so that is the background to DL's daily 777 service. Flying from LAX should allow the 772LR to carry quite a bit of cargo, which was always a high-profit element of this route. I don't think DL would start a route which required subsidy for more than a month; they have lots of other uses for their (very scarce) 772LRs. I'm sure DL expects to be profitable from day 1; and to do so as a premium product, not competing on fares alone. So you will never find the lowest price on DL (or QF); however the extra capacity should lower fares overall, or at least keep them from climbing further. DL will try to attack the QF J product on price, though (so there might be some bargains at the high end).