AUSTRALIA can consider further opening up the lucrative trans-Pacific route only after its second long-haul carrier starts services to the US next year, the Australian transport minister said Thursday.

'Essentially our position is 'Let's get the second carrier that will provide competition to Qantas',' Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said at an aviation conference in Singapore.

'Once that occurs, further liberalisation can be considered at that time.'

V Australia, the long-haul arm of Australia's second largest carrier Virgin Blue, originally planned to start its Sydney-Los Angeles service on December 15 this year but has been forced to postpone the launch to February 28 next year.

The delay was due to a workers' strike at aircraft manufacturer Boeing which delayed the delivery of the first of three Boeing 777-300ER that V Australia had ordered.

The profitable Sydney-Los Angeles route is currently serviced only by Australian flag-carrier Qantas and US carrier United Airlines.

Qantas is said to earn as much as 20 per cent of its profits from the Sydney-Los Angeles route, and Singapore Airlines has sought unsuccessfully for years from Australia to get access to that route.