CJ, the president of AIPA at the time was in no uncertain terms that the very night before the announcement, A320s and NJS had the inside run for the order. Even as late as the morning of!
I wouldn't class it as 'AIPA pressure' but rather pressure from various members from the AIPA COM that got the gig our way. It is the same hard work that got us AO and hopefully will be the same hard work that gets us this one as well.