Sachin Walls
How well do you know your airport codes? Airport codes are the three letters assigned to each airport by the International Air Transport Association. While some are straightforward, like LHR for Heathrow, others are more cryptic. Test your knowledge of airport codes and see if you can guess the airport from just a glance at its code. Some airports are more recognizable than others, whether due to their size, unique designs, or geographical importance. So, think you can take on the challenge and name that airport?
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What You'll Learn
Airport codes and cities
Airport codes are used to identify airports and airlines around the world. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is the official source for these codes, which are typically 2 or 3 letters long. For example, the code for John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City is JFK, and the code for Los Angeles International Airport is LAX.
These codes are used by airlines, travel agents, and passengers for various purposes, such as booking flights and checking luggage. They are particularly useful when dealing with airports and airlines that have similar names. For instance, London City Airport's code is LCY, while London Heathrow Airport's code is LHR.
In some cases, the airport code may be unrelated to the city it serves. This can occur when an airport is located in a smaller city or town near a larger metropolitan area. For example, Chicago Midway International Airport, which serves Chicago, has the code MDW, and Newark Liberty International Airport, which serves New York City, is designated EWR due to its location in Newark, New Jersey.
Knowing these airport codes can be helpful when planning travel, especially when dealing with flight connections or layovers. Additionally, some games and trivia quizzes can test your knowledge of airport codes and names, such as "Guess Their Answer" and "Airport Security." These games can be a fun way to challenge yourself and learn more about aviation and travel-related topics.
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Busiest airports
The title of the world's busiest airport is determined by the total number of passengers processed and aircraft movements, which include landings and take-offs.
According to the Airports Council International, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, is the busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic. In 2024, it processed over 108 million passengers, which was a 2% decrease compared to 2023, but still 1% below 2019 levels. Atlanta has consistently held the top spot since 1998, except for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dubai International Airport (DXB) is another strong contender for the busiest airport in the world. While Atlanta may have processed more passengers overall, Dubai International Airport processed the most international passengers in 2024, with 92.3 million passengers. It also witnessed a 7% increase in passenger traffic compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Other airports that made it to the top 15 busiest airports in the world in 2024 include:
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, USA (DFW)
- Tokyo Haneda Airport, Japan (HND)
- London Heathrow Airport, UK (LHR)
- Denver International Airport, US (DEN)
- Istanbul Airport, Turkey (IST)
- O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, US (ORD)
- Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, India (DEL)
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport, China (PVG)
- Los Angeles International Airport, US (LAX)
- Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, China (CAN)
- Seoul Incheon International Airport, Korea (ICN)
- Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, France (CDG)
In 2024, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) was crowned the busiest airport in Europe, with 51.6 million seats, closely followed by Istanbul Airport (IST) and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).
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Countries with most airports
The United States is the country with the highest number of airports in the world. As of June 2024, there were over 15,873 airports in the country, an increase from 14,712 in 2015. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in the United States, serving over 89 million passengers each year since 2005.
Brazil is the country with the second-highest number of airports in the world, with nearly 5,000 airports as of 2024. The São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport is the busiest in Brazil and is renowned for its organisation and comfort. This airport served nearly 40 million passengers in 2014.
Mexico ranks fourth globally, with 1,714 airports, most of which are small to medium-sized. The Benito Juárez International Airport is the country's busiest, having served over 38 million passengers in 2015.
Other countries with a notable number of airports include Colombia, with 836 airports; Paraguay, with close to 800 airports; the United Kingdom, with over a thousand airports; and Canada, with over a thousand airports.
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Spotting aircraft
Aircraft spotting is a hobby that involves watching or spotting planes. It dates back to WWII when governments encouraged citizens to identify enemy planes. Today, plane spotters may use binoculars, cameras, or mobile phones to record their sightings and note down details such as registration, airline, and type of aircraft. Some plane spotters are interested in military planes, helicopters, special liveries, cargo jets, or classic and rare aircraft. Others focus on business jets or small props.
To begin aircraft spotting, it is recommended to find an airport nearby and research which flights will be arriving or departing. This can be done through flight-tracking apps like Flightradar24, planefinder, or radarbox24, or by listening to air traffic controllers with radio scanners, where legal. When visiting an airport for plane spotting, it is important to be prepared with the necessary equipment, food and beverages, appropriate clothing, sun protection, and insect repellent. Some locations may require a long journey on foot or by car, and a ladder or small camping chair can make the experience more comfortable.
When spotting aircraft, observers typically look for key attributes such as distinctive engine noises, the number of contrails, callsigns, size, number and position of engines, wing position, and the degree to which they are swept rearwards. Additionally, attention to details such as the number of engines, windshield design, landing gear configurations, engine placement, and shape of the nose and tail can help identify different types of aircraft.
Plane spotters can record their sightings through photographs or videos, which they can upload and share on websites like airliners.net, Instagram, or YouTube. They can also connect with other spotters through social media groups, mailing lists, or escorted aviation tours. It is important for plane spotters to be aware of the legal and security implications of their hobby, especially when visiting airports in dangerous or critical countries, and to follow any relevant guidelines or codes of conduct.
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Security checks
Prepare in Advance
It is recommended to arrive at the airport early, at least two hours before departure, to allow enough time for the security check process. Travellers should familiarise themselves with the specific security guidelines of the airport and the airline, which can vary. Some items, such as hazardous materials, are forbidden in both carry-on and checked baggage, while others, like liquids and electronics, have specific requirements for packing and placement. Knowing these regulations in advance can help streamline the screening process.
Dress Comfortably
Wearing comfortable clothing and shoes that are easy to remove and put back on is advisable. Avoiding metal accessories, such as belts or jewellery, can also expedite the security check process by reducing the likelihood of setting off metal detectors.
Organise Your Hand Luggage
Organising hand luggage is crucial. Place items that need to be scanned, such as liquids and electronics, in easily accessible areas. This saves time and reduces hassle during screening. Additionally, keeping medications and medical devices readily available, along with the relevant prescriptions or medical certificates, is essential.
Screening Procedures
Airport security screening typically involves passing through metal detectors and X-ray machines to verify the contents of carry-on baggage. Passengers may also undergo explosive trace detection (ETD) and random physical searches. It is important to remain calm and patient during the process, especially when waiting in queues.
TSA PreCheck® and Secure Flight
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) offers unpredictable security measures to enhance safety. The TSA PreCheck® programme allows travellers to enjoy faster screening if they enrol through authorised providers. Additionally, the Secure Flight programme enhances security by identifying low and high-risk passengers before their arrival at the airport, matching their names against trusted traveller lists and watchlists while maintaining privacy.
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Frequently asked questions
Players are given clues about a particular airport and must guess the name of the airport based on those clues.
Clues might include details about the airport's location, such as the nearby presence of the Eiffel Tower, or specific aircraft that use the airport, such as the 777 or DC-10s.
Yes, there are online versions of similar games. One example is Airport Guessr, which includes the top 50 airports by passenger traffic in 2023.
Another airport-themed game is one where you are given the airport code and must guess the major city served by that airport.
