speculating out of left field
Mitsubishi has their groovy new plane complete with GTFs and available as a 100 seater. The only takers I saw was Trans States for a few of the smaller one. I'm sure Mitsubishi would love a big order for the big plane to a big US carrier. Any chance that other elements of the Japanese aviation world would act on their behest to encourage orders WRT to such things as Haneda or JAL? I love a conspiracy so I'm creating one out of whole cloth.