Well, that story confuses the issue even more ... How do you replace 50+ Boeing 757's (180 passengers, 4500 mile range) with 40 717's (100 passengers, 2000 mile range)? Unless you're significantly downsizing your airline (which I don't believe BA is doing), it doesn't happen!

I do believe that BA is considering the 717 (I recall reading reports saying that elsewhere), but they are not to "replace" the 757. I'm sure the 757 replacements will be coming with the order BA placed with Airbus a bit back for A320 family aircraft.

Doesn't BA use 757's on some trans-Atlantic routes?