Hello and bonjour and sorry for not posting more often... Can I ask a quick question?

Last week on 19th August, both AF6 and AF10 from CDG to JFK were delayed by several hours. Rather than indicating that the corresponding return flights (AF7 and AF11) would be delayed as well because of the proverbial "late arrival of aircraft", Air France cancelled AF7 and AF11 and renumbered the flights respectively AF4091 and AF4095 showing an amended departure time reflecting the expected delay. Both AF4091 and AF4095 were then operated by the A380s who had landed in JFK as AF6 and AF10.

A quick search on AF website or on FlightRadar shows that AF7 and AF11 were indeed cancelled - but that AF4091 and AF4095 ran approximately on time.

As far as I am concerned, I was initially booked on AF11 but was offerred a seat in AF4091 (ex-AF7), which I accepted and which made me reach CDG early enough for my connecting flight - so all fine for me.

However and purely out of curiosity I was wondering what AF gained from this cancellation / renumbering exercise? Any impact on the compensation rules? or on the statistics? or anything else?

Thanks and safe travels.