> although that means they need for it to be flights that would never both be in the air at the same time
It's interesting that this is called out, because there are frequently at multiple flights in the air with the same flight number
QF1 / QF2 is now over 24 hours, and has daily flights. It seems pretty feasible to have the SIN-LHR leg be delayed just enough so there's two SIN-LHR QF1s in the air at the same time.
Singapore Airlines has some 19 hour flights. Qantas hopes to have a 22 hour flight 'soon'. Very feasible that these can be delayed just long enough so there's two of the flights in the air at the same time.
I think you do not need 24 hour flights for that. Some flight numbers are used multiple times throughout the day. If one gets delayed too much, then two planes can be in the sky at the same time with the same flight number.
It’s gotta be a big YMMV thing. I wonder if US airlines might do that domestically only but not for international.
Air Canada will renumber a daily flight if the delay goes past midnight (to avoid having two departures with the same number on the same day). I doubt it’s just a courtesy, but an incompatibility with their (or enough airports’ systems).
It's interesting that this is called out, because there are frequently at multiple flights in the air with the same flight number
QF1 / QF2 is now over 24 hours, and has daily flights. It seems pretty feasible to have the SIN-LHR leg be delayed just enough so there's two SIN-LHR QF1s in the air at the same time.
Singapore Airlines has some 19 hour flights. Qantas hopes to have a 22 hour flight 'soon'. Very feasible that these can be delayed just long enough so there's two of the flights in the air at the same time.