El Al

Other than middle eastern?

Ah maybe AI?

9W did for some time, too (though I think they pulled out of one of the airports.)

Who DOES cover JFK but not EWR?

Note that NH, for example, runs service to JFK but their codeshare UA operates to EWR. Same with OZ and ICN, CA and PEK, etc.

So who does that leave? KE, JL, SU? Great.

I don't recall an "extensive argument" on this topic. More one poster having a personal preference to fly out of EWR versus all others who are perfectly fine with multiple daily JFK flights with good connections to AA network if NYC isn't their final destination.

Yes, but CX's pattern of behaviour suggests they prefer gaining market share on a given origin-destination pair over spreading themselves thinly with wide coverage. That's in line with their cost conscious behaviour as a larger no. of calls at a given airport gives them better bargaining power there. And airport fees are a substantial part of an airline's costs.

I know...I'm not suggesting that I think it will be the right move for CX.
I'm just refuting the poster's points.

Also EWR had MULTIPLE signs with "Cathay Pacific" on them mid last year so CX was definitely going in and pulled out at the last minute.

Last year CX website had EWR listed as the second airport that serves New York, so they were definitely going all in and, as you said, pulled out in last minute.

They're still planning to as they do not have any more additional landing slots for JFK.

EWR should be announced soon.

Crossing my fingers....

but do CX have enough 77W (4 Class) to launch EWR?

IIRC They actually had it. They swoped the 5th JFK slot with BR in order to get the EWR slot two years ago.

I think that's why they are launching the route so lately. There will be new 77H coming to the fleet in Aug 2013.

It's announced: http://airlineroute.net/2013/08/13/cx-ewr-mar14/