FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Same flight number for outbound and return
Old Jan 5, 2012 | 3:32 pm
  #6  
dbaker
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 1K/*G
Posts: 2,397
Originally Posted by channa
Though not on the same callsign -- they'd have to modify that.
That is incorrect. Although UAL will usually put a suffix alpha character, it is common to operate two in the ATC system at the same time.

http://flightaware.com/about/faq.rvt#twoflights
Why does FlightAware show two airlines flights operating simultaneously with the same flight number? Is that possible?

Unfortunately, this is not a bug. It seems that some airlines occasionally have duplicate flight numbers in the air at the same time with different origins and destinations. When tracking a flight that is in the air twice, the arrival/departure history will be accurate but the position, speed, and altitude will be unreliable.
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