I agree that NW probably wants to operate a mixture of Airbus and Boeing aircraft… but it’s worth noting that NW has purchased only two Boeing aircraft since the late 1980s/early 1990s.

The B753 being delivered today are part of an order that was deferred in 1991 (although they were upgraded to B753 in 2001) … the B744 delivered in 1999 were part of an order also deferred in 1991.