[gordner]

The pilot's saying "if it is not Boeing I am not going" is just that, a pilot saying, and the reason is that Boeing allows the pilots much more direct control of the aircraft than Airbus. If you knew as many commercial pilots as I do, you would be torn as to what build philosophy is more correct. Somewhere upwards of 90 percent of aircraft fatalities are pilot error. Airbus' aircraft architecture is designed to limit this to some degree.
SW saves money through fleet conformity, and their choice of aircraft is driven almost solely by daily operating costs. Adding Airbus to the mix means more spares, more training etc. etc. etc.
It always amuses me how people latch onto something reported in the media and run with it with so little knowledge or information on the subject. NONE of these aircraft are inherently dangerous, if that were the case they would not be in the air. "if it aint boeing I aint going" is an oft repeated refrain that so few actually understand the root of, and it has nothing to do with safety.....