So much commotion from Australia to Europe, from Southeast Asia to the US, but why no suggestions at all from Asia to South America?

So much commotion from Australia to Europe, from Southeast Asia to the US, but why no suggestions at all from Asia to South America?

Possibly because this is Australian business traveller? South America also isn't a major destination for Australians. 

Uh...I mostly mean in general. Yes, this is AusBT, but even in general there's no commotion at all!

South America could be a major destination from Australia if getting there weren't so difficult.  It's a massive continent full of interest and opportunity. Santiago is well served (Qantas and LAN, both Oneworld), and Buenos Aires if you don't mind flying Aeorolineas Argentinas (Sky Team).  Forget about Star Alliance.  But the Galapagos Islands, Peru and Brazil - all potentially huge for Australian travellers both pleasure and business - are 3500km north from Santiago.  Otherwise you have to fly to LAX only to fly another 8-13 hours south again.  Opening up a service from SYD to, say, LIM may be risky at first but in my opinion would flourish before long.

News Update:

Aerolineas Argentinas is cancelling Sydney - Buenos Aires link from April 2014.

http://airlineroute.net/2013/11/11/ar-syd-s14cxld/

All that's left is LAN and QF.

Qantas? Wakey wakey!

Let's hope ETOPS can let Cathay fly from HKG to LIM using big 777-200LR birds that they have yet to buy.

Interesting question. There's not much tourist traffic from Australia to South America, but that's primarily because getting there is so expensive; usually about $3000 compared to the <$2000 it costs to get to any other continent. The three airlines which currently service the route could probably increase demand by lowering fares, but they'd probably make less profit by doing so; better to cart one plane a day with high fares than two planes a day with high fares. Two of the airlines (QF and LAN) on the route are in a cozy oneworld duopoly, while the other (Aerolineas Argentinas) is a bit of a mess that's too busy not collapsing to actually try anything novel. And since the route requires four engines, there's not much prospect for any new competitors. So I'm afraid we're stuck with the current lousy situation for now.

Hmm, events have contradicted me in the two hours and 33 minutes since I wrote that. Apparently we're now stuck with a *worse* situation, only two airlines, and no flights to anywhere except Santiago. 

And per the frontpage, Aerolinas Argentina will quit the route from April 2014, so obviously not everyone is making money on the route