Owais Crawford
The United States has over 19,700 airports, with 5,170 open to the general public and 503 serving commercial flights. Due to the large number of airports, lists of US airport codes are broken down into separate lists. Airport codes in the US are three-letter codes assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and are based on the city or state generally associated with the airport. For example, Los Angeles International Airport is LAX, and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport is JFK.
US Airport Codes Characteristics and Values Table
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of airports in the US | Over 19,700 |
| Number of airports open to the general public | 5,170 |
| Number of airports serving commercial flights | 503 |
| Airports with over 10,000 passenger boardings per year are classified as | Primary airports |
| Airport code type | IATA 3-letter and 2-letter codes |
| Airport code example | Bakersfield, CA (BFL) |
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What You'll Learn
Airport codes are assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA)
Airport codes are an integral part of the travel industry and are essential for the identification of an airline, its destinations, and its traffic documents. They are also fundamental to the smooth functioning of hundreds of electronic applications that have been built around these coding systems for passenger and cargo traffic purposes. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) assigns airport codes, which are typically 1, 2, 3, or 4 character combinations (referred to as unigrams, digrams, trigrams, or tetragrams, respectively). These codes are used to uniquely identify locations, equipment, companies, and times to standardize international flight operations.
IATA airport codes are trigram letter designations for airports, like "ORY" (Paris-Orly Airport), "CPT" (Cape Town International Airport), "OTP" (Otopeni International Airport), and "BCN" (Barcelona-El Prat). Some airport codes are based on previous names associated with a present airport, often with a military heritage. For example, Chicago's O'Hare airport is designated ORD, based on its old name of Orchard Field. Similarly, Rickenbacker International Airport uses LCK, which stands for its former name, Lockbourne Air Force Base.
IATA also provides codes for airport handling entities and certain railway stations. Alphabetical lists of airports sorted by IATA code are available, and a list of railway station codes is also provided. These lists are shared in agreements between airlines and rail lines such as Amtrak, SNCF, and Deutsche Bahn. Additionally, IATA publishes various coding data reference sources, including free and subscription-based resources, to help users find the code of an airline or locate the airport code for any commercial airport worldwide.
Airlines and Central Reservation Systems (CRS) may request the assignment of a unique three-letter code to identify a location like an airport. Bus or ferry stations may also be eligible for an IATA location identifier if they are involved in intermodal airline travel. The assignment of these codes is governed by IATA Resolution 763 and is administered by the IATA's headquarters in Montreal, Canada. The codes are published semi-annually in the IATA Airline Coding Directory.
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FAA codes are assigned by the Federal Aviation Administration
Airport codes are used to standardise and simplify the identification of airports, especially when dealing with customs and air traffic control. In the United States, there are over 19,700 airports, with 5,170 open to the general public and 503 serving commercial flights.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for assigning FAA codes, also known as location identifiers, to airports within the US and its territories. These codes are an essential part of aviation operations and are used in various applications, such as flight planning, navigation, and air traffic control. The FAA codes are typically linked to the airport's page in the state's airport directory, providing crucial information for pilots, air traffic controllers, and other aviation stakeholders.
The FAA codes are distinct from the airport codes assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). IATA codes are widely used for commercial purposes, such as booking flights and checking luggage. These codes are often three letters, like LAX for Los Angeles International Airport or JFK for John F. Kennedy International Airport, and are designed to be easily recognisable and memorable.
The FAA codes, on the other hand, can consist of a combination of letters and numbers and are not limited to three characters. For example, the FAA code for Bakersfield, California, is BFL, while the code for Baltimore, Maryland, is BWI. These codes are less commonly used by the general public but are crucial for operational and regulatory purposes within the aviation industry.
The FAA categorises airports into four main categories: Large Hub, Medium Hub, Small Hub, and Non-Hub. These categories are based on the percentage of total US passenger enplanements and the total number of passengers. Large hubs account for at least 1% of passenger enplanements, generally accommodating 18,500,000 or more passengers annually. Medium hubs handle between 0.25% and 1% of enplanements, typically serving 3,500,000 to 18,500,000 passengers. Small hubs account for between 0.05% and 0.25% of enplanements, catering to 500,000 to 3,500,000 passengers. Non-hub airports handle less than 0.05% of enplanements and serve fewer than 500,000 passengers per year.
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ICAO codes are assigned by the International Civil Aviation Organization
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that coordinates the principles and techniques of international air navigation. The organization fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. The ICAO headquarters are located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
ICAO codes are four-letter codes that designate aerodromes and aviation facilities around the world. The first one or two letters of the ICAO code indicate the country, while the remaining letters identify the airport. For example, the ICAO code for Heathrow International Airport in London is EGLL, with EG reflecting that it is based in the United Kingdom. These codes are used by air traffic control and airline operations such as flight planning.
ICAO codes are separate and distinct from IATA codes, which are typically used for airline timetables, reservations, and baggage tags. IATA, or the International Air Transport Association, is a trade association representing airlines. Unlike IATA codes, ICAO codes are assigned based on the airport's region and country, and all airports, including private plane airports, receive an ICAO code.
In the contiguous United States and Canada, many airports have ICAO codes that are simply copies of their three-letter IATA codes, with the geographical prefix added. For example, YEG and CYEG both refer to Edmonton International Airport, while IAD and KIAD refer to Washington Dulles International Airport. However, this similarity does not extend to Alaska (PAxx), Hawaii (PHxx), or U.S. territories.
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Codes are usually 2 or 3 letters long
Airport codes in the United States follow the pattern of typically being 2 or 3 letters long. These codes are assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and are used to identify airports around the world.
The codes are usually derived from the airport's location, often the city it is associated with, or the airport name itself. For example, Baltimore, MD's airport code is BWI, and Bangor, ME's is BGR. Some codes are more cryptic, such as Bakersfield, CA (BFL) or Bar Harbor, ME (BHB).
While most airport codes are three letters, there are some two-letter codes as well. These are generally for smaller airports or those with fewer passengers. An example of a two-letter code is Barter Island, AK (BTI).
The use of letter codes provides a quick and standardised way to refer to airports, aiding efficient communication and organisation in the aviation industry.
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There are over 19,700 airports in the US
The vastness of the US is reflected in its airports. There are over 19,700 airports in the country, including public-use and military airports, heliports, STOL (short takeoff and landing) ports, and seaplane bases. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) further breaks down the list of airports in the US into separate, more manageable lists.
Airports in the US that provide scheduled passenger services and have over 10,000 passenger boardings per year are classified as primary airports by the FAA. These primary airports are further classified into four "hub" types based on the total number of passengers:
- Large hub: At least 1% of total US passenger enplanements (generally 18,500,000+ total passengers)
- Medium hub: Between 0.25% and 1% of total US passenger enplanements (generally 3,500,000-18,500,000 total passengers)
- Small hub: Between 0.05% and 0.25% of total US passenger enplanements (generally 500,000-3,500,000 total passengers)
Each airport is assigned a unique three-letter code by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). These IATA codes are used to identify airports and are often used in flight schedules and travel bookings. For example, Los Angeles International Airport's IATA code is LAX, and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport is assigned JFK.
- Bakersfield, CA (BFL)
- Baltimore, MD (BWI)
- Bangor, ME (BGR)
- Bar Harbor, ME (BHB)
- Waco, TX (ACT)
- Washington, DC Dulles (IAD)
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Frequently asked questions
US airport codes are three-letter codes assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to airports in the United States.
US airport codes are typically three letters long, for example, Los Angeles International Airport's code is LAX.
Yes, there are two types of airport codes: IATA codes and ICAO codes. IATA codes are three-letter codes, while ICAO codes are four-letter codes.
An example of an ICAO code for a US airport is KLAX, which is the code for Los Angeles International Airport.
According to the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) from 2011-2015, there are over 19,700 airports in the United States, with 5,170 open to the general public and 503 serving commercial flights.
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