Maybe they were just options that have been cancelled, they had way too many b787's on order as options.
This could just be yet another scare tactic to the pilots/engineers/cabin crew to show there is real doom and gloom out there when it's negotiating pay.
Also shows some tough stance to the market about what they are doing, in an attempt to stem the share price flow of death. Of course with a share price that low, they could not get the finance for all of them no doubt
Just a thought sunnie.