Out of interest has the reasoning for this been explained to you? I suppose a preferential rate which blows the competition out of the water?

We often favour the cheapest however I have final say and can use a variety of excused to choose who I like as long as the price isn't drastically different.

The only requirement we have similar is that it has to be a recognised airline. I couldn't take a local flight from Tibet to Nepal where your likely to be outnumbered by livestock on the manifest, if they had one. Same applies for taxis, we are not allowed to take Uber and has to be a recognised company.