Quantcast

Airlines face challenges as they run out of available four-digit flight numbers

Qantas launches mammoth Asia flight sale including Bali and Japan
Delta Cuts Two Domestic Routes
United Airlines Technicians Reject ‘Dead on Arrival’ Contract Proposal, Teamsters Say
Spirit Airlines to add Detroit nonstop flight out of Bradley International Airport
Major airline to launch new direct flights from Scotland to North America
Ryanair launches new ‘prime’ membership which saves passengers more than £400 a year
Judge Orders Boeing to Trial on 737 MAX Case
Qantas’ free international Wi-Fi to switch on from next week
The real reason Southwest is charging for bags now
Air France-KLM in ongoing talks with Air Europa on potential stake, CEO says
Frontier Savagely Shades Southwest After They Eliminated Longstanding Free Bag Policy, Sparking Backlash
Frontier Wants You to 'Divorce Your Old Airline' After Southwest Changes
Delta named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies for sustainability initiatives
Passengers escape fiery American Airlines jet in Denver
Delta, American Dive On Slashed Outlooks; But Two Airlines Rally
Competitors are circling Southwest after the airline announced it's going to start charging for checked bags
Exclusive: Dominican Low-Cost Carrier Arajet Wants to Disrupt NYC Market
Boeing deliveries rise 63% in February from a year earlier
Transportation Secretary Duffy Lays Out 10 Ways the FAA Is Working to Upgrade Air Traffic Control and Make Flying Safer
EasyJet pilot Paul Elsworth suspended after flying too close to mountain
Delta Air Lines bets on ‘blended-wing’ flight to reduce emissions
Europe's airlines pivot to bite size M&A deals to limit cost, regulatory burden
Dave Emerson named new CEO of Virgin Australia, replacing Jayne Hrdlicka
Ryanair DELAYS controversial new boarding pass rule to avoid summer chaos
FAA Orders Inspection, Replacement of 737NG Engine Parts
Spirit Adds New Airport, Three Routes
Delta crash passengers should take the $30,000 payment, their lawyers say. Here’s why.
Budget airline launches new cheap flights to one of the UK’s top winter sun destinations
Brazilian airline Azul to go 'back to basics' after challenging 2024
Airlines cancel flights as air travel to ‘grind to complete halt’ this week ahead of major strike action in Europe
Airlines face challenges as they run out of available four-digit flight numbers
Research
Webp p18pueyozwbyaegyt1fzg7i1qaau
View from the Wing | View from the Wing

Airlines use up to four digits for flight numbers, allowing a maximum of 9,999 flights. Despite this seemingly ample range, major carriers like American Airlines, Delta, and United are facing a shortage of available flight numbers.

During an American Airlines employee meeting last week following the airline’s second-quarter earnings call, an IT worker raised the issue: “We’re running out of flight numbers. Are we looking at 5-digit or some other solution?”

Brian Znotins, Senior Vice President of Network Planning at American Airlines, acknowledged the challenge and explained their approach to managing it.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Znotins pointed out that codesharing with partner airlines exacerbates the problem. For example, American Airlines sells flights operated by Alaska Airlines and routes from Doha to cities in India and Pakistan under its own flight numbers. This increases the total number of flights they need to number beyond 9,999.

To address this issue, airlines have developed methods to conserve flight numbers. One such method is assigning the same flight number to multiple flights in a day when feasible. Znotins elaborated:

“With consolidation in the industry, airlines have been running out of flight numbers... We have more than 9,999 flights that we would like to go out and number. And so ways to save flight numbers—we actually have a model that goes and conserves flight numbers so that we can continue to add where we want to.”

He further mentioned using "out and back" flight numbers where a round trip carries the same number for both legs.

The technical limitations stem from legacy computer systems dating back sixty years. These systems were designed with two-letter airline codes and four-digit flight numbers for efficiency reasons similar to those behind Y2K issues.

American Airlines has already extended its mainline flight number range up to 3,139 as part of its efforts to manage this limitation.

CEO Robert Isom also commented on future plans regarding this constraint: “We have aspirations to be a lot bigger, so over time let’s put that down as a project.”

Organizations Included in this History
More News

With the commencement of the 2025 summer flight schedule, ITA Airways has seamlessly integrated into the Lufthansa Group terminals in Frankfurt and Munich.

Mar 30, 2025

Air China is set to resume its Toronto flights after a 33-year hiatus.

Mar 29, 2025

United Airlines has confirmed that a Boeing 767-300ER, which departed from London on March 26, returned to London Heathrow after experiencing mechanical problems.

Mar 29, 2025

American Airlines has introduced new routes to Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic, following its "March Map-Ness" contest.

Mar 29, 2025

A Delta Air Lines Airbus A321neo is back in operation after being grounded due to smoke detected in its cabin.

Mar 29, 2025

The Southern Museum of Flight in Birmingham, Alabama, presents an extensive collection of over 120 aircraft, showcasing a range of experimental, military, and general aviation aircraft.

Mar 29, 2025