Isn't this simple hedging. The airlines hedge everything from peanuts and pretzels to fuel. So hedging against a possible 787 failure at the time they ordered the A350, makes more sense. Now being given the 777X option they are hedging again. Remember their own sovereign wealth fund is one of the highest individual share holders at EADS (Airbuses mother company). Maybe they are partial to some information about the A350 development that has forced their hand to change.