Number up for troubled US flight (BA 223)
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Number up for troubled US flight (BA 223)
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."
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."
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Now I'm confused. If the media knows that the flight number has changed and we know surely the terrorists know.
So what the hell does it achieve?
From what I have read there is a threat involving the numbers 223. There also seems to be some debate if it involves the 23rd Feb or 22nd March or a flight 223.
So if it involved the flight number 223 then surely they will target flight 293.
Also change date is post 22nd march so what is the point?
Another great out smarting move by those who underestimate the intelligence of terrorists!
So what the hell does it achieve?
From what I have read there is a threat involving the numbers 223. There also seems to be some debate if it involves the 23rd Feb or 22nd March or a flight 223.
So if it involved the flight number 223 then surely they will target flight 293.
Also change date is post 22nd march so what is the point?
Another great out smarting move by those who underestimate the intelligence of terrorists!
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gfo69...
Disagree...
The rumour is that the US keep pressing the BA223 to be cancelled etc. is because their "web searches" keep seeing '223'. In turn, that is thought to be due to a UN resolution 223 (something to do with the Palestinian situation?)...
So hopefully the Flt No change will solve the problem. Until UN Resolution 293 comes out!
Given the very high profile, cancellations etc. of the 223, they surely would have given up on it a long time ago... After all, it is only one of a number of similar flights - why go for the one under the spotlight!
NoD
Disagree...
The rumour is that the US keep pressing the BA223 to be cancelled etc. is because their "web searches" keep seeing '223'. In turn, that is thought to be due to a UN resolution 223 (something to do with the Palestinian situation?)...
So hopefully the Flt No change will solve the problem. Until UN Resolution 293 comes out!
So if it involved the flight number 223 then surely they will target flight 293
NoD
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I think you'll find the change of flight number coincides with a change of departure time that will be incorporated into the new summer schedule (hence the date)
This is much more to do with reassuring passengers than outwitting terrorists.
The sales on this flight have suffered (predictably) while all other flights to Washington have continued to sell well
There has been a lot of discussion as to the relevance of the flight number, but I'm sure that this decision has been undertaken after careful discussion with intelligence departments.
The fact that other Washington flights have been unaffected demonstrates why the flight number being changed along with a schedule change should resolve this issue.
This is much more to do with reassuring passengers than outwitting terrorists.
The sales on this flight have suffered (predictably) while all other flights to Washington have continued to sell well
There has been a lot of discussion as to the relevance of the flight number, but I'm sure that this decision has been undertaken after careful discussion with intelligence departments.
The fact that other Washington flights have been unaffected demonstrates why the flight number being changed along with a schedule change should resolve this issue.
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Hostie
That is cr*p. Flight times change with the seasonal schedules all the time without flight numbes changing, often for good reason - manager says to secretary - book me on BA223 on thursday etc.
The change is to try to remove the wheat (the BA flight to IAD number 223) from the chaff (possible terrorist chatter about 223) and re-introduce stability to the schedule for this flight.
CargoONe
Remember we are talking about Americans here, 223 = 23rd Feb = today. 293 = 3rd of the 29th month or 93rd of Feb.
I think you'll find the change of flight number coincides with a change of departure time that will be incorporated into the new summer schedule (hence the date)
The change is to try to remove the wheat (the BA flight to IAD number 223) from the chaff (possible terrorist chatter about 223) and re-introduce stability to the schedule for this flight.
CargoONe
Remember we are talking about Americans here, 223 = 23rd Feb = today. 293 = 3rd of the 29th month or 93rd of Feb.
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Good point, I never though of the commercial implications. In particular appeasing the punters.
I guess BA took a real knock on that one.
I was wondering though does any one know if any other airline has experienced the same problem?
I guess BA took a real knock on that one.
I was wondering though does any one know if any other airline has experienced the same problem?
From today's Australian newspaper...
February 27, 2004
THE Daily Telegraph, London: February 25, 2004.
Headline: Solved Mystery of Plots Against BA's Flight 223.
At last the mystery of who is plotting to bring down BA's Flight 223 has been solved by an anonymous observer who wrote to the airline to reveal all.
"The intelligence services act on intercepts of communications, eavesdropping, etc," he begins.
"What's important to people when they travel outside the EU? The duty free, naturally.
"These repeated references of 'you must get the duty free' are probably being interpreted as 'you must get the 223'. I'd suggest that you consider changing the flight number."
And so it was that the flight number on BA's flight from Heathrow to Dulles was changed. Fair dinkum. You've got to love that. Those husky, muffled Arabic voices. Whatever you do, get that 223!
February 27, 2004
THE Daily Telegraph, London: February 25, 2004.
Headline: Solved Mystery of Plots Against BA's Flight 223.
At last the mystery of who is plotting to bring down BA's Flight 223 has been solved by an anonymous observer who wrote to the airline to reveal all.
"The intelligence services act on intercepts of communications, eavesdropping, etc," he begins.
"What's important to people when they travel outside the EU? The duty free, naturally.
"These repeated references of 'you must get the duty free' are probably being interpreted as 'you must get the 223'. I'd suggest that you consider changing the flight number."
And so it was that the flight number on BA's flight from Heathrow to Dulles was changed. Fair dinkum. You've got to love that. Those husky, muffled Arabic voices. Whatever you do, get that 223!
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Got to add....
UN resolution 293 has already been passed (in 1971), and refers to the partitioning of Cyprus. So whilst most UN resolutions will refer to fairly acrimonious situations, BA is changing from an Arab/Israeli dispute to a Greek/Turkish dispute. I wonder in the long term if the well known laid back attitudes of the Greeks and Turks will suit BA any better?
UN resolution 293 has already been passed (in 1971), and refers to the partitioning of Cyprus. So whilst most UN resolutions will refer to fairly acrimonious situations, BA is changing from an Arab/Israeli dispute to a Greek/Turkish dispute. I wonder in the long term if the well known laid back attitudes of the Greeks and Turks will suit BA any better?
