Originally Posted by
corporate-wage-slave
Someone in BA management suggested to me that it may lead to more use, tactically, of longhaul aircraft from time to time on routes such as MAD, ARN, ZRH, GVA and domestically. They are looking at ways of doing what Cathay do to slip a shorthaul trip between longhauls. That kind of happens already occasionally, but I doubt it will form a significant part of the schedule in the medium term. 767s were also good for cargo movements.
My understanding is also that a plane's overall lifespan is also greatly influenced by pressurisation cycles. I wouldn't expect BA to be doing what you suggest too intensely with their high-value wide-bodies unless it really made commercial sense. On the up-side for us as travellers though, it would mean a higher rate of new aircraft being needed :-)