AUSTRALIA and the UK have come to an agreement at government level to
eliminate restrictions on airline operations between the two countries.
The new deal, signed last week is immediately effective. Airlines
from both countries are not now restricted regarding intermediate
points except that Qantas does not have traffic freedoms in China and
the USA, the UK airlines are already limited to bilaterals. Qantas
says that it does not plan to increase flights from its current 28 in
each direction per week, BA has not commented, and Virgin is
increasing its Hong Kong schedules for the winter which will give
marginal opportunities in terms of through seat availability. It is
unlikely that further UK/Oz airlines will come on the route, which is
already well served by carriers based at intermediate stops, all with
long range aircraft either already in their fleets, or on order.
http://www.qantas.com.au