It is not a simple ACMI contract involving one or two Saabs. We are talking about outsourcing a large, long-term operation that mirrors a similar operation in Denmark. I doubt that Cityjet was calling the shots here. I would expect that SAS tendered the whole deal.
Or do you have an explanation why Flybe did not force the Q400 upon SAS and instead ordered ATR72s? Same story here - Flybe being pitched against Jettime with the same type of aircraft.