Editing Flight number

{{Short description|Airline code for a journey between multiple points}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2014}}
[[Image:Flight numbers.jpg|thumb|200px|Flight numbers on a [[split-flap display]] (Frankfurt airport)]]
In the aviation industry, a '''flight number''' or '''flight designator''' is a code for an airline service consisting of two-character [[Airline codes#IATA airline designator|airline designator]] and a 1 to 4 digit number.<ref>IATA Passenger Glossary of Terms (15 June 2018) [www.iata.org/whatwedo/passenger/.../IATA-Passenger-Glossary-of-Terms.xlsx]</ref> For example, QF9 is a Qantas Airways service from Perth, Australia to London Heathrow. A service is called "[[direct flight|direct]]" if it is covered by a single flight number, regardless of the number of stops or [[Change of gauge (aviation)|equipment changes]]. For example, QF1 flies from Sydney to Singapore to London on Qantas Airways. A given flight segment may have multiple flight numbers on different airlines under a [[Codeshare agreement|code-sharing agreement]]. Strictly speaking, the flight number is just the numerical part, but it is commonly used for the entire flight designator.

The flight designator of the [[operating carrier]] of a commercial flight is used as a [[Aviation_call_signs|call sign]].<ref>[[ICAO]], "Glossary" [https://www.icao.int/dataplus_archive/Documents/GLOSSARY.docx]</ref> This is distinct from the [[aircraft registration|aircraft's registration number]], which identifies a specific airplane.

==Conventions==
A number of conventions have been developed for defining flight numbers, although these vary widely from airline to airline, and are increasingly being modified.<ref>Peter Newell, "Flight Numbering Alternatives", ''Ascend: A Magazine for Airline Executives'', issue 2, 2014 [http://www.ascendforairlines.com/2014-issue-no-2/flight-numbering-alternatives]</ref> Eastbound and northbound flights are traditionally assigned [[Even and odd numbers|even numbers]], while westbound and southbound flights have odd numbers. Other airlines will use an odd number for an outbound flight and use the next even number for the reverse inbound flight.  For destinations served by multiple flights per day, numbers tend to increase during the day.  Hence, a flight from point A to point B might be flight 401 and the return flight from B to A would be 402, while the next pair of flights on the same route would usually be assigned codes 403 and 404.

Flight numbers of less than three digits are often assigned to long-haul or otherwise premium flights. For example, flight number 1 is often used for an airline's "flagship" service (see below for a 'List of flight number 1 by airlines'). However [[Cathay Pacific]] assigns flight numbers which are less than 100 for cargo flights.

Four-digit numbers in the range 3000 to 5999 typically represent regional affiliate flights, while numbers larger than 6000 are generally [[code sharing|codeshare]] numbers for flights operated by different airlines or even [[high-speed rail|railways]].

Likewise, flight numbers larger than 9000 usually refer to [[dead mileage|ferry flights]]; these carry no passengers and are used to relocate aircraft to or from a maintenance base, or from one air travel market to another in order to start new commercial flights. Flight numbers starting with 8 are often used for charter flights, but it always depends on the commercial carrier's choice.

===Flight numbering system in mainland China===
The People's Republic of China uses a completely different system for assigning flight segments than most countries; prior to 1988 reformation, there was only one major airline in mainland China, [[CAAC Airlines|CAAC]], which initially used “the first digit of the flight number represents the base airport (1 North China, 2 Northwest China, 3 South China, 4 Southwest China, 5 East China, and 6 Northeast China) for domestic flights, and the end of the number has an odd digit for departures and an even digit for return trips”. In the 1980s, a second digit joined, indicating the destination of flights (many domestic flights of [[Air China]] and [[China Eastern]] from their base still follow this rule); one-digit and two-digit flight numbers are usually reserved for executive charters or special mission flights (e.g., the flight carrying the black boxes and American investigators of the [[China Eastern Airlines Flight 5735]] in 2022 used flight numbers CA79 and CA80).
With the privatization and booming of China's civil aviation, in 2004 the CAAC issued a system for allocating flight numbers across the country, with [[Air China]] allocated 1XXX, 4XXX, and 9XX, [[China Eastern]] 2XXX and 5XXX, [[China Southern]] 3XXX and 6XXX, [[Hainan Airlines]] 7XXX, [[Sichuan Airlines|Sichuan]] and [[Xiamen Airlines|Xiamen]] 8XXX, and stipulating that Chinese airlines should not use the same flight numbers each other. However, this rule is no longer strictly enforced, as the allocated numbers have become shortage of use.<br>
As a result, there are three special cases in China:<br>
1. Flight number 9XXX may be a regular flight, while smaller number like 500 or 2000 might be used on ferry flights or [[codeshare]] ones.<br>
2. Flagship flights do not use one-digit or two-digit flight numbers, and may even be four-digit flight numbers.<br>
3. Flight numbers in the event of an aviation accident will not be retired, as seen on [[Air China Flight 129]] which is still active as of January 2025 (albeit using a different type of aircraft). Still, there are exceptions, as with the case of the aforementioned China Eastern Airlines Flight 5735.<!--As of 2025, Flight 5735 is no longer used by China Eastern-->

==Codeshare==
{{main|Codeshare agreement}}
In a codeshare, airlines share their aircraft with others, resulting in the flight having more than one flight number on the same sector, and either the same or different flight numbers on joined sectors.

As an example, QF8412 flies from Dubai to Sydney, but it is codeshared with and operated as EK412. Another example is QF3920, which is a flight from Lima, Peru to Santiago, Chile that is also codeshared with LATAM 523.

== List of flight number 1 by airline ==
Most flights are non-stop from A to B, and few are from A to B then to C (both A-B and B-C have flight number 1). Aircraft type may change due to operation need or unforeseen circumstance.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
|- 
! class="sortable" | Airline !! IATA Flight No !! ICAO Flight No
!From
!To
!Then to (if applicable)
!Aircraft Type
|-
|[[Aeroméxico]]
|AM1
|AMX1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AMX1|title=AeroMéxico (AM) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AM1 schedule. (Aeromexico flight: Mexico City -> Madrid) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Aeromexico_AM_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|MEX}} [[Mexico City International Airport|Mexico City]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport|Madrid]]}}
|
|[[Boeing 787]]
|-
|[[Air Canada]]
|AC1
|ACA1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/ACA1|title=Air Canada (AC) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AC1 schedule. (Air Canada flight: Toronto -> Tokyo) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Air_Canada_AC_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|Toronto–Pearson]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Haneda Airport|Tokyo–Haneda]]}}
|
|[[Boeing 777-300ER]]
|-
|[[Air Canada Express]]
|QK1  
|JZA1<ref>{{Cite web |title=QK1 (JZA1) Jazz Flight Tracking and History 14-Feb-2024 (CYUL-CYOW) |url=http://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/JZA1/history/20240214/1323Z/CYUL/CYOW |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=FlightAware |language=en}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Montréal–Trudeau International Airport|Montreal]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport|Ottawa]]}}
|
| [[Bombardier CRJ700 series|Bombardier CRJ900]]
|-
|[[Air France]]
|AF1
|AFR1<ref>{{Cite web |title=AF1 schedule. (Air France flight: New York -> Paris) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Air_France_AF_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Charles de Gaulle Airport|Paris–CDG]]}}
|
|[[Boeing 777#777-200|Boeing 777-200]] / [[Boeing 777#777-300ER|777-300ER]]
|-
|[[Air Japan]]
|NQ1
|AJX1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AJX1|title=Air Japan (NQ)#1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2024-03-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Air Japan Schedules Bangkok Launch in Feb 2024 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230802-nqfeb24bkk |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=AeroRoutes |language=en-CA}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Narita International Airport|Tokyo–Narita]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|THA}} [[Suvarnabhumi Airport|Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi]]}}
|
|[[Boeing 787 Dreamliner|Boeing 787-8]]
|-
|[[Air Macau]]
|NX1
|AMU1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AMU1|title=Air Macau (NX)#1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2024-03-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NX1 schedule. (Air Macau flight: Beijing -> Macau) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Air_Macau_NX_1 |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Beijing Capital International Airport|Beijing–Capital]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|MAC}} [[Macau International Airport|Macau]]}}
|
|[[Airbus A321]]
|-
|[[Air New Zealand]]
|NZ1
|ANZ1<ref>{{Cite web |title=NZ1 schedule. (Air New Zealand flight: New York -> Auckland) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Air_New_Zealand_NZ_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Auckland Airport|Auckland]]}}
|
|[[Boeing 787 Dreamliner#787-9|Boeing 787-9]]
|-
|[[Air Tahiti Nui]]
|TN1
|THT1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/THT1|title=Air Tahiti Nui (TN) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=TN2 schedule. (Air Tahiti Nui flight: Tahiti -> Los Angeles) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Air_Tahiti_Nui_TN_2 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|TAH}} [[Fa'a'ā International Airport|Papeete]]}}
|
|[[Boeing 787 Dreamliner#787-9|Boeing 787-9]]
|-
|[[Alaska Airlines]]
|AS1
|ASA1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/ASA1|title=Alaska Airlines (AS) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AS1 schedule. (Alaska Airlines flight: Washington -> Seattle) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Alaska_Airlines_AS_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Washington–Reagan]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport|Seattle]]}}
|
|[[Boeing 737 800|Boeing 737-800]]
|-
|[[American Airlines]]
|AA1
|AAL1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL1|title=American Airlines (AA) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AA1 schedule. (American Airlines flight: New York -> Los Angeles) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/American_Airlines_AA_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
| rowspan="3" |{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]]}}
|
|[[Airbus A321]]

|-
|[[Cape Air]]
|9K1
|KAP1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/KAP1|title=Cape Air (9K) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2024-03-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=9K1 schedule. (Cape Air flight: New York -> Nantucket via Martha's Vineyard) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Cape_Air_9K_1 |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[Martha's Vineyard Airport|Martha's Vineyard]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[Nantucket Memorial Airport|Nantucket]]}}
|[[Cessna 402]]
|-
|[[Delta Air Lines]]
|DL1
|DAL1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL1|title=Delta (DL) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2019-02-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=DL1 schedule. (Delta Air Lines flight: New York -> London) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Delta_Air_Lines_DL_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Heathrow Airport|London–Heathrow]]}}
|
|[[Boeing 767|Boeing 767-400ER]]
|-
|[[El Al]]
|LY1
|ELY1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/ELY1|title=El Al (LY) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=LY1 schedule. (EL AL flight: Tel Aviv-Yafo -> New York) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/EL_AL_LY_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|ISR}} [[Ben Gurion Airport|Tel Aviv]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK]]}}
|
|[[Boeing 787 Dreamliner#787-9|Boeing 787-9]]
|-
|[[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]]
|EK1
|UAE1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/UAE1|title=Emirates (EK) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=EK1 schedule. (Emirates flight: Dubai -> London) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Emirates_EK_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Dubai International Airport|Dubai]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Heathrow Airport|London–Heathrow]]}}
|
|[[Airbus A380-800]]
|-
|[[Etihad Airways]]
|EY1
|ETD1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/ETD1|title=Etihad Airways (EY) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Etihad Designates Flight Number 1 New York Service From April 2024 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240309-eyns24jfk |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=AeroRoutes |language=en-CA}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Abu Dhabi International Airport|Abu Dhabi]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK]]}}
|
|[[Airbus A380-800]] / [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner#787-9|Boeing 787-9]]
|-
|[[FedEx Express]]
|FX1
|FDX1<ref>{{Cite web |title=FX1 (FDX1) FedEx Flight Tracking and History 09-Mar-2024 (STN / EGSS-KMEM) |url=http://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/FDX1/history/20240309/2354Z/EGSS/KMEM |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=FlightAware |language=en}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|UK}} [[London Stansted Airport|London–Stansted]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[Memphis International Airport|Memphis]]}}
|
|[[Boeing 777F]]
|-
|[[Finnair]]
|AY1
|FIN1<ref>{{Cite web |title=AY1 schedule. (Finnair flight: Helsinki -> Los Angeles) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Finnair_AY_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|FIN}} [[Helsinki Airport|Helsinki]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]]}}
|
|[[Airbus A350-900]]
|-
|[[Flydubai]]
|FZ1
|FDB1 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/FDB1|title=flydubai (FZ) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2024-03-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=FZ1 schedule. (flydubai flight: Dubai -> Doha) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/flydubai_FZ_1 |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Dubai International Airport|Dubai]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Hamad International Airport|Doha]]}}
|
| [[737 MAX 8|Boeing 737-MAX 8]]
|-
|[[Hawaiian Airlines]]
|HA1
|HAL1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/HAL1|title=Hawaiian Airlines (HA) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=HA1 schedule. (Hawaiian Airlines flight: Los Angeles -> Honolulu) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Hawaiian_Airlines_HA_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[Daniel K. Inouye International Airport|Honolulu]]}}
|
|[[Airbus A330|Airbus A330-200]]
|-
|[[Japan Airlines]]
|JL1
|JAL1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/JAL1|title=Japan Airlines (JL) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=JL1 schedule. (JAL flight: San Francisco -> Tokyo) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/JAL_JL_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[San Francisco International Airport|San Francisco]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Haneda Airport|Tokyo–Haneda]]}}
|
|[[Boeing 777-300ER]]
|-
|[[Japan Transocean Air]]
|NU1
|JTA1<ref>{{Cite web |title=NU1 schedule. (Japan Transocean Air flight: Osaka -> Okinawa) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Japan_Transocean_Air_NU_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kansai International Airport|Osaka−Kansai]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Naha Airport|Okinawa−Naha]]}}
|
|[[Boeing 737 Next Generation|Boeing 737-800]]
|-
|[[JetBlue|JetBlue Airways]]
|B61
|JBU1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/JBU1|title=JetBlue (B6) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=B61 schedule. (JetBlue Airways flight: New York -> Fort Lauderdale) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/JetBlue_Airways_B6_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport|Fort Lauderdale]]}}
|
|[[Airbus A321-200]] / [[Airbus A320-200]]
|-
|[[Jetstar]]
|JQ1
|JST1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/JST1|title=Jetstar (JQ)#1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2024-03-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=JQ1 schedule. (Jetstar Airways flight: Melbourne -> Honolulu) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Jetstar_Airways_JQ_1 |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Melbourne Airport|Melbourne]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[Daniel K. Inouye International Airport|Honolulu]]}}
|
|[[Boeing 787 Dreamliner#787-8|Boeing 787-8]]
|-
|[[Jin Air]]
|LJ1
|JNA1{{efn|name=JL1|Note Jin Air operates ICN-BKK as LJ1/2 in the Summer months (Mar-Oct) and as LJ3/4 in the winter months}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/JNA1|title=Jin Air (LJ) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Jin Air - All Nonstop Flights from ICN to BKK |url=https://www.flightsfrom.com/ICN-BKK#LJ |access-date=19 Mar 2024 |website=FlightsFrom.com}}</ref>
| rowspan="2" |{{nowrap|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Incheon International Airport|Seoul–Incheon]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|THA}} [[Suvarnabhumi Airport|Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi]]}}
|
|[[Boeing 737-800]]
|-
|[[Korean Air|Korean Air Lines]]
|KE1
|KAL1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/KAL1|title=Korean Air Lines Co. (KE) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=KE1 schedule. (Korean Air Lines flight: Seoul -> Honolulu via Tokyo) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Korean_Air_Lines_KE_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Narita International Airport|Tokyo–Narita]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[Daniel K. Inouye International Airport|Honolulu]]}}
|[[Boeing 777-200ER]]
|-
|[[LATAM Chile]]
|LA1
|LAN1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/LAN1|title=LAN Airlines (LA) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=LA1 schedule. (LATAM Airlines Group flight: Santiago -> Puerto Natales) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/LATAM_Airlines_Group_LA_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|CHL}} [[Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport|Santiago]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|CHL}} [[Teniente Julio Gallardo Airport|Puerto Natales]]}}
|
|[[Airbus A320 family|Airbus A320]]
|-
|[[LOT Polish Airlines]]
|LO1
|LOT1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/LOT1|title=Lot - Polskie Linie Lotnicze (LO) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=LO1 schedule. (LOT Polish Airlines flight: Warsaw -> Chicago) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/LOT_Polish_Airlines_LO_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|POL}} [[Warsaw Modlin Airport|Warsaw]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]]}}
|
|[[Boeing 787 Dreamliner|Boeing 787-8]]
|-
|[[Lufthansa]]
|LH1
|DLH1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/DLH1|title=Lufthansa (LH) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=LH1 schedule. (Lufthansa flight: Hamburg -> Frankfurt) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Lufthansa_LH_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|GER}} [[Hamburg Airport|Hamburg]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|GER}} [[Frankfurt Airport|Frankfurt]]}}
|
|[[Airbus A320 family|Airbus A321]] / [[A320neo]]
|-
|[[Malaysia Airlines]]
|MH1
|MAS1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/MAS1|title=Malaysia Airlines (MH) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MH1 schedule. (Malaysia Airlines flight: London -> Kuala Lumpur) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Malaysia_Airlines_MH_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Heathrow Airport|London–Heathrow]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|MYS}} [[Kuala Lumpur International Airport|Kuala Lumpur]]}}
|
|[[Airbus A350|Airbus A350-900]]
|-
|[[Nauru Airlines]]
|ON1
|RON1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/RON1|title=Nauru Airlines (ON)#1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2024-03-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ON1 schedule. (Nauru Airlines flight: Nauru Island -> Brisbane) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Nauru_Airlines_ON_1 |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|Nauru}} [[Nauru International Airport|Nauru]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Brisbane Airport|Brisbane]]}}
|
|[[Boeing_737_Classic#737-300|Boeing 737-300]]
|-
|[[Qantas]]
|QF1
|QFA1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/QFA1|title=Qantas (QF) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=QF1 schedule. (Qantas flight: Sydney -> London via Singapore) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Qantas_QF_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Sydney Airport|Sydney]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|SIN}} [[Singapore Changi Airport|Singapore]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Heathrow Airport|London–Heathrow]]}}
|[[Airbus A380-800]]
|-
|[[Qatar Airways]]
|QR1
|QTR1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/QTR1|title=Qatar Airways (QR) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=QR1 schedule. (Qatar Airways flight: Doha -> London) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Qatar_Airways_QR_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Hamad International Airport|Doha]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Heathrow Airport|London–Heathrow]]}}
|
|[[Boeing 777-200LR]] / [[Boeing 777#777-300ER|777-300ER]] / [[Airbus A350-900]]
|-
|[[Scandinavian Airlines]]
|SK1
|SAS1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/SAS1|title=SAS (SK) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=SK1 schedule. (SAS flight: Lulea -> Stockholm) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/SAS_SK_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Luleå Airport|Lulea]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Stockholm Arlanda Airport|Stockholm]]}}
|
|[[Airbus A320neo]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Flight history for SAS flight SK1 |url=https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/sk1 |website=Flightradar24 |access-date=10 November 2020}}</ref>
|-
|[[Skymark Airlines]]
|BC1
|SKY1<ref>{{Cite web |title=BC1 schedule. (Skymark Airlines flight: Tokyo -> Fukuoka) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Skymark_Airlines_BC_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Haneda Airport|Tokyo–Haneda]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|JPN}}}} [[Fukuoka Airport|Fukuoka]]
|
|[[Boeing 737-800]]
|-
|[[Southwest Airlines]]
|WN1
|SWA1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/SWA1|title=Southwest (WN) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Southwest Airlines flight WN 1 schedule. |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Southwest_Airlines_WN_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Dallas Love Field|Dallas–Love Field]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|USA}} [[William P. Hobby Airport|Houston–Hobby]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Corpus Christi International Airport|Corpus Christi]]}}
|[[Boeing 737-700|Boeing 737-700 / 737-800]] / [[737 MAX 8|737-MAX 8]]
|-
|[[SpiceJet]]
|SG1
|SEJ1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/SEJ1|title=SpiceJet (SG) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=SG1 schedule. (SpiceJet flight: Chennai -> Colombo) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/SpiceJet_SG_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Chennai International Airport|Chennai]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} [[Colombo International Airport, Ratmalana|Colombo]]}}
|
|[[Boeing 737-800]]
|-
|[[Spirit Airlines]]
|NK1
|NKS1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/NKS1|title=Spirit Airlines 1|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=10 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NK1 schedule. (Spirit Airlines flight: Fort Lauderdale -> Chicago) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Spirit_Airlines_NK_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport|Fort Lauderdale]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]]}}
|
|[[Airbus A321]] / [[Airbus A321neo]]
|-
|[[Starlux Airlines]]
|JX1
|SJX1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/SJX1|title=Starlux Airlines 1|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=21 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=JX1 schedule. (Starlux Airlines flight: Los Angeles -> Taipei) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Starlux_Airlines_JX_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]]}}
|{{Flagicon|Taiwan}} [[Taoyuan International Airport|Taipei–Taoyuan]]
|
|[[Airbus A350-900]]
|-
|[[Turkish Airlines]]
|TK1
|THY1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/THY1|title=Turkish Airlines (TK) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=TK1 schedule. (Turkish Airlines flight: Istanbul -> New York) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/Turkish_Airlines_TK_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|TUR}} [[Istanbul Airport|Istanbul]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK]]}}
|
|[[Boeing 777-300ER]]
|-
|[[United Airlines]]
|UA1
|UAL1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/UAL1|title=United (UA) #1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=UA1 schedule. (United Airlines flight: San Francisco -> Singapore) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/United_Airlines_UA_1 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[San Francisco International Airport|San Francisco]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|SIN}} [[Singapore Changi Airport|Singapore]]}}
|
|[[Boeing 787-9]]
|-
|[[Zipair Tokyo]]
|ZG1
|TZP1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/TZP1|title=Zipair Tokyo (ZG)#1 ✈ FlightAware|website=FlightAware|language=en|access-date=2024-03-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ZG1 schedule. (ZIPAIR Tokyo Inc. flight: Honolulu -> Tokyo) |url=https://info.flightmapper.net/flight/ZIPAIR_Tokyo_Inc__ZG_1 |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=info.flightmapper.net}}</ref>
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|US}} [[Daniel K. Inouye International Airport|Honolulu]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Narita International Airport|Tokyo–Narita]]}}
|
|[[Boeing 787 Dreamliner#787-8|Boeing 787-8]]
|}
{{notelist}}

A notable former flight number 1 was British Airways flight BA1, operated by the [[Concorde]] between London Heathrow and New York's John F. Kennedy airport. After the retirement of Concorde in 2003 the flight number was retired with it, however in 2009 it was given to the [[Club World London City|all business class A318 flight]] between London City Airport and New York JFK via Shannon in Ireland. This route ceased operation in 2020 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], and British Airways has since announced it will not be restarting the service.

==Flight number changes==
Flight numbers are often taken out of use after a crash or a serious incident. Examples include:

* Following the disappearance of [[Malaysia Airlines Flight 370]], the airline changed the flight number for subsequent flights following the same route to MH 318.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-03-13 |title=Malaysia Airlines to Retire Flight Number 370 - Southeast Asia Real Time - WSJ |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/searealtime/2014/03/13/airline-to-retire-call-sign-370/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314103628/https://blogs.wsj.com/searealtime/2014/03/13/airline-to-retire-call-sign-370/ |archive-date=2014-03-14 |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=Wall Street Journal}}</ref>
* After the crash of [[Air France Flight 447]] over the Atlantic Ocean, a regular scheduled flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, was changed to Air France Flight 445.<ref>{{cite news |language=de |title=AF 445 statt AF 447: Air France ändert Flugnummer auf der tragischen Unglücksroute |trans-title=AF 445 instead of AF 447: Air France changes the flight number of the route that had the tragic accident |url=http://bazonline.ch/panorama/vermischtes/AF-445-statt-AF-447--Air-France-aendert-Flugnummer-auf-der-tragischen-Ungluecksroute/story/10901518 |work=Baseler Zeitung |date=8 June 2009 |access-date=8 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612014942/http://bazonline.ch/panorama/vermischtes/AF-445-statt-AF-447--Air-France-aendert-Flugnummer-auf-der-tragischen-Ungluecksroute/story/10901518 |archive-date=12 June 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* Following the crash of [[Asiana Airlines Flight 214]] in July 2013, Asiana change the numbered flight pairs from Asiana Airlines 213/214 to 211/212.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mather |first=Kate |date=2013-08-06 |title=Asiana Airlines to change number of Seoul-S.F. flight after crash |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-asiana-number-change-20130806-story.html |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Flight number conservation==
Airline mega mergers, in markets such as the United States, have made it necessary to break conventional flight numbering schemes. Organizations such as IATA, ICAO, ARC, as well as [[CRS system]]s and the FAA's ATC systems limit flight numbers to four digits (0001 to 9999). The pool of available flight numbers has been outstripped by demand for them by emergent mega-carriers. As such, some carriers use the same flight number for back-and-forth flights (e.g., [[Washington-National|DCA]]-[[Palm Beach International Airport|PBI]]-DCA), or in other cases carriers have assigned a single flight number to a multi-leg flight (e.g., [[Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport|ICT]]-[[Dallas Love Field|DAL]]-[[Houston Hobby Airport|HOU]]-[[Chicago Midway International Airport|MDW]]-[[Eppley Airfield, Omaha|OMA]]-[[Denver International Airport|DEN]]-[[Albuquerque International Sunport|ABQ]]-[[Harry Reid International Airport|LAS]]-[[Bradley International Airport|BDL]]).<ref>{{cite web |title=The Science behind Flight Numbers |url=https://community.southwest.com/t5/Southwest-Stories/The-Science-behind-Flight-Numbers/ba-p/42760 |website=southwestaircommunity.com |access-date=March 3, 2019 |language=en |date=June 9, 2015}}</ref>

==Flight designator==
Although 'flight number' is the term used colloquially, the official term as defined in the [[Standard Schedules Information Manual]] (SSIM) published annually by the [[International Air Transport Association]] (IATA) Schedules Information Standards Committee (SISC), is '''flight designator'''. Officially the term 'flight number' refers to the numeric part (up to four digits) of a flight code. For example, in the flight codes QF103 and AF296Q, "103" and "296" are flight numbers. Even within the airline and airport industry, it is common to use the colloquial term rather than the official term.

==Spacecraft==
Flight numbers are also sometimes used for spacecraft, though a flight number for an expendable rocket (say, [[Ariane 5 Flight 501]]) might more reasonably be called the [[serial number]] of the vehicle used, since an expendable rocket can only be launched once.  Space Shuttle missions used numbers with the [[Space Shuttle program|STS]] prefix, for example, [[STS-93]]. [[SpaceX]] uses sequential numbers for flights of reused boosters. As an example, [[SpaceX Crew-2|Crew-2]] used booster B1061.2 (the second flight of booster [[List of Falcon 9 first-stage boosters#Booster 1061|B1061]]).

== See also ==
* [[Airline call sign]]
* [[Codeshare agreement]]
* [[Change of gauge (aviation)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Civil aviation]]
[[Category:Identifiers]]