I recall Allan Joyce remarking a year or so ago that if Qantas was allowed they would launch Sydney to Paris via Shanghai.

I recall Allan Joyce remarking a year or so ago that if Qantas was allowed they would launch Sydney to Paris via Shanghai. I assume this is now no longer a desire?

QF still want to fly to Paris, however are limited to 3 flights a week based on the France - Australia air agreement which makes the route unviable.

Okay thanks for the update

That seesm highly unfair, I would wager that everyone from Emirates to Singapore to China Southern have better agreements, why don't Australia or Qantas?

As unfair as it may be, why can't Qantas use its three and rely on Air France for the rest - or even better partner with Cathay, JAL (would be nice to have another oneworld carrier going to Europe via Japan) for the rest of the week. Virgin Au seems to be doing this profitably with Ethiad - and they only flys 3 x week via Sydney. For those who will want to fly Qantas all the way will plan their travel accordingly and others will have a mixed carrier itinerary. Maybe Qantas needs a "line in the sand" internationally  to stop the erosion of their market share

I see no reason why 3 x weekly should in itself make a route unviable. Sure, it may not make as much as if daily, but it's not hardly going to force longer crew layovers etc. Mon, we'd, fri, 2 night layovers, surely that's about standard? And isnt the a380 perfect for capacity constrained routes?

Why would QF devote 2 aircraft to a 3 weekly service to Paris when those two aircraft can operate 14 weekly flights to Asia? European services have to be extremely profitable to be worth the aircraft they take up, and Qantas faces many more barriers than the 3 weekly restrictions (massive competition, lack of aircraft, no onward connections from Paris etc). 

Qantas will stick to LHR and Germany...

What about Franfurt via Shanghai? That seems to make more sense as the Singapore option is crowded with Star Alliance fligths and Qantas needs to boost their China services. 

But then passengers from outside Sydney can't connect in one stop. There's also more competition from Shanghai than Singapore (4 daily flights against 3)...