Do airplane flight numbers stay the same or it changes?
FlightsThe Question Asker asked:
For example, JetBlue Airways Flight 95, would this Aircraft be flight 95, until it retires, or it will change?
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For example, JetBlue Airways Flight 95, would this Aircraft be flight 95, until it retires, or it will change?
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August 13th, 2008 at 4:37 am
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The flight number goes with the route, not the plane…any plane flying the scheduled JetBlue Flight 95 route would be Flight 95.
Usually, those numbers stay unless there’s a crash or something…like on 9/11. The numbers of those flights were “retired” out of respect (and probably a concern that nobody would want to fly on them).
August 15th, 2008 at 2:17 am
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It would be the route that stays the same, not the plane
August 16th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
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To answer your question correctly you need a little knowledge about air carrier’s certification. The FAA certifies air carrier’ either under Title 49 Part 135 or 121. The difference is part 135 is On-demand meaning they can fly and time with no set schedule. Part 121 has set schedules and routes.
To make a change to a route such as Jet Blue flight number 95 they would contact the FAA Certificate Management District Office (CMO) in writing and request a change before they make it. The airline can use any aircraft they want to fly the route, but the route number will stay the same. Route numbers can be changed as, again they will have to contact the CMO in writing and get it approved before it changes.
Also keep in mind aircraft N-numbers the on the tail such as N123JB could be changed to N789JB, however aircraft serial number never change.
August 17th, 2008 at 11:43 am
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Airline flight numbers will change if the airplane crashes. I was in New Orleans 20 years ago when Pan Am 759 went down in the city. Pan Am never used 759 after that day even though it still flew the same route.
August 20th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
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Flight numbers are by route, not by airplane… an airplane has a registration number that will be with the airplane for as long as it stays with the same owner… the flight number being flown by that airplane is dependant on the airline and can change at any time, and is in no way related the the individual airplane, although some airlines code their flight numbers to be able to tell direction of flight or maybe even aircraft type that will fly the route…