Roberta Aguirre
Airports around the world are commonly identified by their three-letter codes, known as IATA codes, which are assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). These codes are used for airline timetables, reservations, and baggage tags. For example, the IATA code for London's Heathrow Airport is LHR, and its ICAO code is EGLL. Some airports have started using their IATA codes as brand names, such as Calgary International Airport (YYC) and Vancouver International Airport (YVR).
IATA Airport Codes
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Form | International Air Transport Association |
| Code Type | 3-letter geocode |
| Usage | Identification of an airline, its destinations, and its traffic documents |
| Used By | Airports and metropolitan areas |
| Examples | JFK for John F. Kennedy Airport, DFW for Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, LAX for Los Angeles International Airport, YYZ for Toronto Pearson Airport, LHR for London's Heathrow Airport |
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What You'll Learn
IATA codes are three-letter geocodes
The three-letter codes are created from the names of the airports or the cities they serve. For instance, YYZ is the code for Toronto Pearson Airport, YUL is used for Montréal–Trudeau, and JFK for John F. Kennedy Airport. Some codes are derived from the older names of the cities, such as PEK for Beijing (formerly Peking), or BOM for Mumbai (formerly Bombay). In some cases, the codes are derived from the city's call letters, like SNA for John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California.
IATA codes are used on items such as baggage tags and tickets, while ICAO codes are used for more "official" purposes like air traffic control and flight plans. ICAO, or the International Civil Aviation Organization, is a United Nations body that sets regulations for international civil aviation. ICAO codes are distributed by region and country, whereas IATA codes have no geographic structure and are decided centrally by the IATA.
IATA codes are also used for certain railway stations, and these are published semi-annually in the IATA Airline Coding Directory. Alphabetical lists of airports sorted by their IATA codes are available, as are lists of railway station codes.
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They are assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA)
An IATA airport code, also called an IATA location identifier, IATA station code, or location identifier, is a three-letter geocode designating many airports and metropolitan areas globally. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) assigns these codes, which are governed by IATA Resolution 763 and administered by the IATA's headquarters in Montreal, Canada. The codes are published twice a year in the IATA Airline Coding Directory.
The IATA code is derived from the name of the airport or the city it serves. For example, YUL is used for Montréal–Trudeau (UL was the ID code for the beacon in the city of Kirkland). Some airports have started using their IATA codes as brand names, such as Calgary International Airport (YYC) and Vancouver International Airport (YVR).
In some cases, airports in the United States retained their NWS (National Weather Service) codes and simply appended an X at the end, like PHX for Phoenix. Many minor airfields without scheduled passenger traffic have ICAO codes but lack IATA codes because four-letter codes allow for more combinations, and IATA codes are primarily used for passenger services. In the US, these airfields use FAA codes instead of ICAO.
IATA codes are essential for the identification of an airline, its destinations, and its traffic documents. They are also crucial for the smooth functioning of numerous electronic applications built around these coding systems for passenger and cargo traffic management. Companies with an IATA Airline Designator Code must use these codes for reservations, schedules, timetables, telecommunications, ticketing, cargo documentation, legal, tariffs, and other commercial/traffic purposes.
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They are used for airline timetables, reservations, and baggage tags
An IATA airport code is a three-letter geocode used to designate airports and metropolitan areas worldwide. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) governs the assignment of these codes, and they are published semi-annually in the IATA Airline Coding Directory.
Airline Timetables
IATA codes are used for airline timetables, reservations, and baggage tags. Companies with an IATA Airline Designator Code are required to use these codes for reservations, schedules, and timetables, among other things. The IATA Reservations Handbook is a reference and training manual that provides a central source of reservation procedures and practices. It covers all internationally agreed-upon reservation rules and interline reservation message procedures, addressing every possible reservation scenario.
Reservations
The IATA Reservation Handbook also covers group bookings and chargeable ancillary services, providing a comprehensive guide for airlines and travel industry organizations to manage their daily operations efficiently.
Baggage Tags
IATA codes are also essential for baggage tags, helping to identify each piece of checked luggage through all baggage handling processes. The combination of the baggage tag issuer code and the tag serial number creates a unique identifier, forming the basis of the "License Plate" for each piece of luggage.
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They are used by passengers and on luggage
Airport codes are used by passengers when they book flights, during check-in, and when they collect their luggage at the baggage claim area. These codes help passengers easily identify their departure and arrival airports.
For example, when booking a flight, a passenger might see "LHR-JFK" as the selected route. This code indicates that the flight You may want to see also The International Air Transport Association (IATA) assigns airport codes that are three-letter geocodes designating many airports and metropolitan areas globally. These codes are used for identifying an airline, its destinations, and its traffic documents. They are essential for the smooth functioning of electronic applications built around these coding systems for passenger and cargo traffic purposes. ICAO codes, on the other hand, are different and are used for official purposes. ICAO, or the International Civil Aviation Organization, assigns these codes by region and country. The first one or two letters of the ICAO code indicate the country, while the remaining letters identify the airport. For example, Heathrow Airport in London has the IATA code LHR and the ICAO code EGLL, with EG indicating that it is based in the United Kingdom. ICAO codes are distributed by region and country, whereas IATA codes have no geographic structure. The selection of ICAO codes is delegated to authorities in each country, while IATA codes are decided centrally by IATA. Many airports in the contiguous United States and Canada have ICAO codes that are copies of their IATA codes, with a geographical prefix added. For instance, Edmonton International Airport has the IATA code YEG and the ICAO code CYEG. ICAO codes are also used for airfields without scheduled passenger traffic, as the four-letter codes allow for a larger number of codes. In the US, minor airfields use FAA codes instead of ICAO codes. Some airports have two ICAO codes, usually when the airport is shared by civilian and military users. For example, Frankfurt Airport in Germany was assigned the ICAO code EDDF, while the Rhein-Main Air Base was assigned the ICAO code EDAF until its closure. You may want to see also IATA stands for the International Air Transport Association. IATA codes are three-letter codes used to identify airports and metropolitan areas. They are used for airline timetables, reservations, and baggage tags. IATA codes are created using letters from the name of the airport or city it serves. For example, the IATA code for John F. Kennedy Airport is JFK, and the code for Dallas/Fort Worth Airport is DFW.Auckland Airport: Visitor Access and Guidelines
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ICAO codes are different and are used for official purposes
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Frequently asked questions
