It seems you've bought into Internet speculation. There's absolutely no indication from UA that they're reconsidering AKL. After UA dropped it, they stated the market had lost money virtually the entire time it was serviced. They fact that UA replaced its B744 with a B777 that took huge payload penalties (due to the length, ETOPS, conditions, etc.) should be a huge clue toward the route's performance.

[qupte]Even with the $$ United makes, it only runs two 747 flights a day into Sydney.[/quote]

I’ve yet to see any solid evidence that SYD is UA’s most profitable market, despite mindless Internet message forum claims. Given that most traffic from Australia to the USA originates in the USA, and that fares originating in Australia are significantly cheaper than those in the USA, and that it’s not unusual for tour packages (including air, hotel, meals, transfers & tours) for two to cost about the same as two air tickets, I think one can make a case that SYD’s probably not nearly as profitable as most think. If it were true that SYD was a major “cash cow” for UA, one would think that NW or another USA-flag airline (besides HA, which seems to be targeting the Hawaii leisure traffic) would be in the market again.

I’m fairly certain the potential codeshare agreement failed primarily as a result of strong DOT opposition.