Originally Posted by TWA Fan 1

The merits of Airbus and Boeing aside (there are pluses and minuses to each, IMHO), the history of the relationship between CO and Boeing goes back to the beginning of Gordon Bethune's tenure as CEO.

Bethune had been an executive at Boeing when he was hired at CO. The airline was still very much struggling at the time, and when Bethune got to CAL, he agreed to a formal exclusivity agreement with Boeing in return for a lot of financial support on the part of Boeing.

But let's just say that once CAL turned the corner, it was clear that it was their turn to pay Boeing back for helping to save the airline, and that may still be a part of the equation here...