Just for a bit of fun and after a bit of a debate with a family member. How many airlines have flight number 1 arriving or departing at a London Airport?

Off the top of my head:
BA
Virgin
Emirates
Malaysia

Does anyone know anymore without me having to search every single airline flying to a London airport.

Qantas and Delta.

Qatar, New Zealand

Westjet

Arion640 wrote:

Off the top of my head:
BA
Virgin

It would be surprising if their flight 1 DIDN'T involve a London airport, given that both airlines are based out of there.

Emirates? Their LHR flight numbers all seem to be single digits.

Biman Bangladesh airlines

Gulf Air operates GF2 which is LHR-BAH. The inbound BAH-LHR is GF3.
They do not have a GF1 but pretty close.
RJ111 is the daily AMM-LHR.

directorguy wrote:

RJ111 is the daily AMM-LHR.

The same for KL where KL1001 is AMS - LHR (and LHR has always been the lowest flightnumber until they decided to have all European flightnumbers in the KL1000 - KL1999 range).

Strictly speaking, NZ1 goes to AKL, and NZ2 goes to LHR. Same with VS1 (Newark). But yes I know you probably meant 'to/from London'

AirKevin wrote:

Arion640 wrote:

Off the top of my head:
BA
Virgin

It would be surprising if their flight 1 DIDN'T involve a London airport, given that both airlines are based out of there.

Well actually from October 2003 until September 2009, BA didn't even have a flight 1. Its also possible in the next few years BA flight 1 maybe be vacant again.

Thanks for the reponses guys.

EK1 and QF1 are both DXB-LHR. I'm surprised Brunei don't use BI1 for BWN-DXB-LHR in which case there would be three carriers using 1 on DXB-LHR.

As an irrelevant aside I'm interested that CX100 isnt LHR. CX1-99 are cargo flights so CX100 is the first passenger flight number but is used for SYD-HKG

QR01. DOH - LHR

afterburner33 wrote:

Strictly speaking, NZ1 goes to AKL, and NZ2 goes to LHR. Same with VS1 (Newark). But yes I know you probably meant 'to/from London'

Same for MH - MH1 is LHR-KUL, and it's the pair of MH4 which is never the popular flight from KUL-LHR.

Arion640 wrote:

AirKevin wrote:

Arion640 wrote:

Off the top of my head:
BA
Virgin

It would be surprising if their flight 1 DIDN'T involve a London airport, given that both airlines are based out of there.

Well actually from October 2003 until September 2009, BA didn't even have a flight 1. Its also possible in the next few years BA flight 1 maybe be vacant again.

Yes, I am aware of that, but what I'm trying to say is if they did have one, it would be surprising if it didn't involved a London airport, given that they're based out of there.

AirKevin wrote:

Arion640 wrote:

AirKevin wrote:

It would be surprising if their flight 1 DIDN'T involve a London airport, given that both airlines are based out of there.

Well actually from October 2003 until September 2009, BA didn't even have a flight 1. Its also possible in the next few years BA flight 1 maybe be vacant again.

Yes, I am aware of that, but what I'm trying to say is if they did have one, it would be surprising if it didn't involved a London airport, given that they're based out of there.

Well if I didn't include it someone would have said you've missed the obvious ones out.

AirKevin wrote:

Arion640 wrote:

Off the top of my head:
BA
Virgin

It would be surprising if their flight 1 DIDN'T involve a London airport, given that both airlines are based out of there.

You probably knew this, but anyway.

BA1 is not from LHR but LCY.

Still a London airport though...

directorguy wrote:

Gulf Air operates GF2 which is LHR-BAH. The inbound BAH-LHR is GF3.
They do not have a GF1 but pretty close.
RJ111 is the daily AMM-LHR.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/GFA1

Does anyone know why they changed this flight number?

Its cool that all of you have found these flights. But the question in my head is why? A dozen airlines flying the same flight number doesn't happen by accident.

danj555 wrote:

Its cool that all of you have found these flights. But the question in my head is why? A dozen airlines flying the same flight number doesn't happen by accident.

London is a very big and important destination for both Business and Leisure travel.

DL001 is LHR-JFK

dmstorm22 wrote:

DL001 is LHR-JFK

Slightly off topic (but some trivia around Delta's Flight No.1), from a Delta timetable dated April 29, 1972, DL1 flew ORD-MIA. (Departed ORD at 12:15pm). DL2 was MIA-ORD.

Would love to know how DL flight 1 has evolved to become LHR-JFK today if anyone knows.

Thanks!

seat1a wrote:

dmstorm22 wrote:

DL001 is LHR-JFK

Slightly off topic (but some trivia around Delta's Flight No.1), from a Delta timetable dated April 29, 1972, DL1 flew ORD-MIA. (Departed ORD at 12:15pm). DL2 was MIA-ORD.

Would love to know how DL flight 1 has evolved to become LHR-JFK today if anyone knows.

Thanks!

In the 1970s, Delta still sorted its flight numbers by aircraft type. 1-99 was the Boeing 747 range. Delta abandoned this practice sometime in the 1980s; the low numbers were reserved for international flights. There certainly must have been another use for flight 1 before acquiring JFK-LHR from United.

danj555 wrote:

Its cool that all of you have found these flights. But the question in my head is why? A dozen airlines flying the same flight number doesn't happen by accident.

Londons one of the world's main cities I guess. Along with new york. BA, VS and (now I've learnt) Delta all have a flight 1 with london and new york involved.

AM's LHR service is 007 haha. I think that is very cool!

Air New Zealand (NZ1/2) LHR.

Faded memory: wasn't PA 1 PanAm's westbound round-the-world flight, or at least the LHR-SFO-HKG-SIN.... something like that? I used to take missing bag reports on a regular basis for bags that misconnected (or stayed on-board) from PA 1 LHR-SFO to my little SFO-SMF bug-smasher flight late in the evening.

ASQ400 wrote:

danj555 wrote:

Its cool that all of you have found these flights. But the question in my head is why? A dozen airlines flying the same flight number doesn't happen by accident.

London is a very big and important destination for both Business and Leisure travel.

Lets not forget the historical tie of London to many Asian and African countries as the imperial capital of the British colonies.

My recollection is that PEX flight 1 was EWR-LGW.

Wingtips56 wrote:

Faded memory: wasn't PA 1 PanAm's westbound round-the-world flight, or at least the LHR-SFO-HKG-SIN.... something like that? I used to take missing bag reports on a regular basis for bags that misconnected (or stayed on-board) from PA 1 LHR-SFO to my little SFO-SMF bug-smasher flight late in the evening.

PA's round the world flights originated in SFO and terminated at JFK (PA1), then did the same thing in reverse (PA2). The source I found mentions that, at least during 747 service, the inbound PA1 to LHR was from FRA, then continued on to JFK. Obviously PA2 would then be JFK-LHR-FRA.

CHI787ORD wrote:

ASQ400 wrote:

danj555 wrote:

Its cool that all of you have found these flights. But the question in my head is why? A dozen airlines flying the same flight number doesn't happen by accident.

London is a very big and important destination for both Business and Leisure travel.

Lets not forget the historical tie of London to many Asian and African countries as the imperial capital of the British colonies.

TBH I feel like this is the real reason. qq

danj555 wrote:

CHI787ORD wrote:

ASQ400 wrote:

London is a very big and important destination for both Business and Leisure travel.

Lets not forget the historical tie of London to many Asian and African countries as the imperial capital of the British colonies.

TBH I feel like this is the real reason. qq

The colonial past left behind greater business ties

ASQ400 wrote:

danj555 wrote:

CHI787ORD wrote:

Lets not forget the historical tie of London to many Asian and African countries as the imperial capital of the British colonies.

TBH I feel like this is the real reason. qq

The colonial past left behind greater business ties

Nice catch

ASQ400 wrote:

danj555 wrote:

CHI787ORD wrote:

Lets not forget the historical tie of London to many Asian and African countries as the imperial capital of the British colonies.

TBH I feel like this is the real reason. qq

The colonial past left behind greater business ties

Exactly. London was the original global city.

(First time poster, lurker since '99 or 2000 -- can't remember precisely).
PS (Ukraine International) has its flight 111 going to Gatwick.
No imperial connections, just a courtesy.

CHI787ORD wrote:

ASQ400 wrote:

danj555 wrote:

TBH I feel like this is the real reason. qq

The colonial past left behind greater business ties

Exactly. London was the original global city.

And it still is A global city. Not sure about post-Brexit, but that's political stuff.

MO11 wrote:

seat1a wrote:

dmstorm22 wrote:

DL001 is LHR-JFK

Slightly off topic (but some trivia around Delta's Flight No.1), from a Delta timetable dated April 29, 1972, DL1 flew ORD-MIA. (Departed ORD at 12:15pm). DL2 was MIA-ORD.

Would love to know how DL flight 1 has evolved to become LHR-JFK today if anyone knows.

Thanks!

In the 1970s, Delta still sorted its flight numbers by aircraft type. 1-99 was the Boeing 747 range. Delta abandoned this practice sometime in the 1980s; the low numbers were reserved for international flights. There certainly must have been another use for flight 1 before acquiring JFK-LHR from United.

The forward flights are in the 400s (401, 402, 403), but the return flights are 1, 2, and 3. JFK has a lot of foreign carriers operating to or from JFK with a flight number of 1.

ASQ400 wrote:

CHI787ORD wrote:

ASQ400 wrote:

The colonial past left behind greater business ties

Exactly. London was the original global city.

And it still is A global city. Not sure about post-Brexit, but that's political stuff.

It still will be tourism wise. More visitors now due to the currency fluctuations and its cheaper to come here.

Anyway its political stuff !

MEA's lowest numbered flight ME 201 is BEY-LHR.

Hisham.

aemoreira1981 wrote:

MO11 wrote:

seat1a wrote:

Slightly off topic (but some trivia around Delta's Flight No.1), from a Delta timetable dated April 29, 1972, DL1 flew ORD-MIA. (Departed ORD at 12:15pm). DL2 was MIA-ORD.

Would love to know how DL flight 1 has evolved to become LHR-JFK today if anyone knows.

Thanks!

In the 1970s, Delta still sorted its flight numbers by aircraft type. 1-99 was the Boeing 747 range. Delta abandoned this practice sometime in the 1980s; the low numbers were reserved for international flights. There certainly must have been another use for flight 1 before acquiring JFK-LHR from United.

The forward flights are in the 400s (401, 402, 403), but the return flights are 1, 2, and 3. JFK has a lot of foreign carriers operating to or from JFK with a flight number of 1.

Yup, I would posit JFK is 2nd behind LHR in having the most XX001 flights originate or depart from it.

ASQ400 wrote:

CHI787ORD wrote:

ASQ400 wrote:

The colonial past left behind greater business ties

Exactly. London was the original global city.

And it still is A global city. Not sure about post-Brexit, but that's political stuff.

The key words here are "past" and "was".... It sure would be interesting to know when it was the last time that any carrier assigned the number 1 to a route to London. Was it the 80s or rather the 70s, i.e. almost 40 or almost 50 years ago?

JayBCNLON wrote:

ASQ400 wrote:

CHI787ORD wrote:

Exactly. London was the original global city.

And it still is A global city. Not sure about post-Brexit, but that's political stuff.

The key words here are "past" and "was".... It sure would be interesting to know when it was the last time that any carrier assigned the number 1 to a route to London. Was it the 80s or rather the 70s, i.e. almost 40 or almost 50 years ago?

As mentioned, DL put #1 on it in the 80's or 90's, e.g. 20-30 years ago.
EK only started Heathrow service in the 90's.

You have to remember that London is Europe's financial capital, at least for now.

kruiseri wrote:

AirKevin wrote:

Arion640 wrote:

Off the top of my head:
BA
Virgin

It would be surprising if their flight 1 DIDN'T involve a London airport, given that both airlines are based out of there.

You probably knew this, but anyway.

BA1 is not from LHR but LCY.

Still a London airport though...

This is correct. That's why I said London airport rather than LHR.

RyanairGuru wrote:

EK1 and QF1 are both DXB-LHR

Strictly speaking, QF1 is SYD-LHR that just happens to stop in DXB on the way

aemoreira1981 wrote:

The forward flights are in the 400s (401, 402, 403), but the return flights are 1, 2, and 3. JFK has a lot of foreign carriers operating to or from JFK with a flight number of 1.

JFK is probably the second-most important airport in the world in terms of airlines assigning it their "flagship route" flight numbers.

On FRA-JFK for example there is DL400 which is the lowest flight number in their naming system you mentioned as well as Lufthansa's LH400.
Lufthansa name their longhaul flights 4xx through 7xx, sorted by destination area, so FRA-JFK has the lowest intercontinental flight number.

More remarkable flight #s for JFK would be DL1 (which includes LHR as well), AA101 or SN501

FedEx route FX1 or FDX1 flies London STN to Memphis MEM. Today it left London at 21:02 and is estimated to arrive at MEM at 23:33. Watching it pass over Newfoundland made me think of this thread. Average flight time of 9:19 for 7,040 km according to FlightRadar24.

RyanairGuru wrote:

As an irrelevant aside I'm interested that CX100 isnt LHR. CX1-99 are cargo flights so CX100 is the first passenger flight number but is used for SYD-HKG

That's an artefact of CX's early days, with their first, and arguably most important, destination outside Asia being Sydney – it's certainly one of CX's flagship routes along with the Vancouver/JFK 888.

LGW wasn't served until 1980, and CX didn't move to LHR until 1993.

Interestingly, the lowest 2xx (Europe) flight number of CX's is 233 to Milan, which seems totally random, with 237 being the first of the five LHR flights.

BobPatterson wrote:

FedEx route FX1 or FDX1 flies London STN to Memphis MEM. Today it left London at 21:02 and is estimated to arrive at MEM at 23:33. Watching it pass over Newfoundland made me think of this thread. Average flight time of 9:19 for 7,040 km according to FlightRadar24.

I noticed just now that today's (Saturday's, weekly) flight is from Paris. It is from London 5 days per week. Strange?