Malaysia retires missing plane's flight code

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia Airlines has retired the missing jetliner's flight code as a sign of respect to the 239 passengers and crew on board.

The airline said Thursday it will no longer be using MH370 and MH371, the same codes used by the Boeing 777 that vanished from radar screens on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on Saturday. A massive search involving satellites, planes and ships has found no trace of the aircraft.

MH370 was used for Kuala Lumpur-Beijing route and MH371 for a return flight.

Starting Friday, Malaysia Airlines said it will use codes MH318 and MH319 for twice-a-day flights to and from Beijing.

"Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families of our colleagues and passengers of MH370," the airline said in a statement.

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Online:

http://malaysiaairlines.com/hq/en.html