Yep.
Ever since Qantas switched it's SYD-SFO route to SYD-DFW (AA oneWorld hubbing /w BA) UA has maintained a virtual monpoly from the Bay Area to Sydney/Melbourne.
GOOD THING IS: High rumours Qantas's low-fare subsidiary JetStar once their A332's are delivered from France they will start flying (with the new HGW A332) or their 787's arrive SYD-SFO again.
Qantas said while the HIGH-TECH business traffic between Sydney and San Francisco DID break even the profits on the route with a 744, apparently Joyce wants even more profits by flying the world's longest 744 route SYD-DFW-BNE-SYD (15.25 hours) straight from Sydney (Australia) into AA's hub (DFW, USA).
Good times.
In fact when the 744's were delivered from Boeing in the early 90's and there was just ONE COMPETITOR on the route 80% of Qantas profits were made charging INSANE fares on Sydney-Los Angeles.
This was before the DL, UA, and DJ/VA competition jumped in.
In fact Sydney-Los Angeles and Sydney-San Francisco was SO PROFITABLE that SQ wanted in on the lucrative market but the Aussie authorities said NO.
There is now open skies between the USA & Australia and most other developed markets so any airline can start at will (unless it is a 3rd country, like SQ).
I guess the decent *A possible announcement of VA (Virgin Australia, Branson's colonial brain-child apparently) with a SQ alignment
FINALLY HAS SQ codeshare on SYD/MEL/BNE-LAX and possible startup onto SYD-SFO.
So possible 3 competitors on the SYD-SFO route from 1.
(1. QF JetStar LCC, 2. SQ/Virgin Australia).
Good for Bay Area travelers. ^