@moa999 hit the nail on the head. To add:

5. 777 ground/turnaround time and required infrastructure (e.g. FTE, ground equipment, etc.) deemed too intensive when compared with A330

6. Boeing touted the 787 was just around the corner. Airbus claimed the same for A350 (e.g. why order current production?)

7. Limited supply of aircraft on market in early 2000s - A330 was the only product available that could be delivered in < 2-3 years