Originally Posted by gregorygrady
Once it has been cancelled a lot and has terrible stats, they will then cancel that flight number out of their schedule for good and make a new flight with a new flight number.
I have read in the WSJ that this is a general industry practice. However, I have not seen it in the LAX-OAK market. One afternoon flight that was terrible (>70% delay) staying the schedule for years. Yet Southwest changed the numbers on early morning flights that were virtually 0% delayed.