From the BBC web site..
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3509081.stm
Number up for troubled US flight
British Airways hopes a new number will bring better luck for flight 223
It is a move intended either to outwit the terrorists or - more likely - to soothe travellers' frazzled nerves.
British Airways is changing the number and time of its flight 223, the London to Washington route dogged by numerous cancellations and delays over security.
From 28 March, the Heathrow to Dulles International service will become BA 293, leaving five minutes earlier than usual, at 1500 GMT.
The airline hopes the new number will go some way towards restoring long-suffering customers' confidence in the troubled service, on which bookings have slumped.
Security alerts
Since New Year's Day, BA 223 has been cancelled five times and delayed for hours at others because of security alerts prompted by US intelligence agencies.
At New Year passengers suffered cancellations and delays for three days running. The first flight of 2004 finally took off on 3 January.
Some US-bound Air France and Continental Airlines flights from Europe have also been cancelled, as have British Airways flights to Saudi Arabia.
British Airways spokesman Paul Parry said: "People associate the flight with delays and the potential for disruption even though it continues to run on schedule at the moment.
"Customers told us this is the reason they are not booking the flight."