How are flight numbers composed?

[moons]

Hello,

Now my exams are over and I have 3 months of vacation, I will have plenty of time to fire some questions again.

I was wondering how flight numbers are composed with different airlines...
I just checked it with BA. It seems that the flights to NY are 177 or 175 and 1xx. Flights to LAX 279 or 283 and 2xx (which I flew one) for example.

Is there some logic in the way they number these flights? For example starting with a 1 or 2 when flying to the US ? And 5 for Asian destinations?

greets and enjoy your holidays!
moons

[sn26567]

For SN it is quite simple (and inherited from Sabena):

xxx : African flights (at Sabena, all intercontinental flights)
1xxx: charter flights (or modified/additional flights)
2xxx: North of Euope
3xxx: South of Europe
4xxx: continuation codeshare flights (e.g. MIL-PMO by AZ, BCN-BIO and MAD-SVQ by IB) (at Sabena: codeshares with Qualiflyer airlines)
5xxx: most codeshares
8xxx: codeshares with AA

[Flying_Dutchman]

Hello,

As far as I know KLM flight numbers are listed as follow:

KL 4XX Flights to the Middle East
KL 5XX Flights to Africa
KL 6XX Flights to North America (Mexico/VS/Canada)
KL 7XX Flights to South America
KL 8XX flights to Asia
KL 1XXX Flights in Europe
And I've seen a lisiting for each country in Asia:
KL 80X - Malaysia/Fillipines/Indonesia
KL 83X - Singapore
KL 86X - Japan
KL 87X - India/Thailand/Taiwan
KL 88X - Hong Kong
KL 89X - China

KL 8XXX flights flown by NWA
KL 2XXX flights flown by AF

Others partners I don't know.

I hope it helped you

[Comet]

I have some small knowledge of BA flights.

The ones from/to Heathrow have BA***.

Ones from/to airports other than Heathrow have BA****.

BA high numbers (BA8905 for example) are often operated by the franchise carriers (in the example it is Loganair).

BA numbers BA4*** are often coded with another airline, with the other airline being the operating carrier.

[moons]

Hi,

thanks for the replies, that's one mistery less

greets