Roberta Aguirre
Airports around the world are commonly identified by their 3 and 4 letter codes. These codes are assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), ICAO, and other civil aviation organizations. The 3-letter code, also known as the IATA location identifier, is a three-letter geocode designating many airports and metropolitan areas around the world. These codes are used for ticketing and travel itineraries. On the other hand, ICAO's 4-letter codes are used for official purposes such as Air Traffic Control and flight plans.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | International Airport Codes |
| Type of code | 3-letter code |
| Assigning authority | International Air Transport Association (IATA) |
| Purpose | Quick way to reference an airport |
| Usage | Tickets, barcoded luggage tags, boarding passes, radio communication |
| Examples | JFK (New York's John F. Kennedy), ORD (Chicago's O'Hare), YOW (Ottawa), YVR (Vancouver) |
| Classes of Airports | Class I, II, III, and IV (based on the type of air carrier operations served) |
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What You'll Learn
IATA 3-letter codes
An IATA airport code, also known as an IATA location identifier, 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, which are published semi-annually in the IATA Airline Coding Directory. These codes are widely used in aviation and logistics to identify airports and cities, making air travel more streamlined and efficient.
The IATA 3-letter codes are used in various contexts, such as baggage tags, tickets, boarding passes, and flight tracking services. For example, JFK is the code for New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, and ORD is used for Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, derived from its old name, Orchard Field. These codes provide a quick and convenient way to reference airports, especially in situations where space is limited or when pronouncing and communicating foreign airport names might be challenging.
While most airports have adopted the IATA 3-letter code standard, there are some exceptions. Certain minor airfields and airports without scheduled passenger traffic may have ICAO (four-letter) codes instead of IATA codes, as these are primarily used for pilot communication and allow for a larger number of possible codes. For instance, Moscow's Sheremetyevo Alexander S. Pushkin International Airport uses the ICAO code UUEE, which is transmitted as "Uniform-Uniform-Echo-Echo" over the radio.
It is worth noting that some countries, like Canada, have unique patterns in their IATA codes. Canadian airport codes often start with the letter "Y," followed by two letters from the city's name or the closest radio beacon's code. For instance, YOW represents Ottawa, YWG stands for Winnipeg, and YYZ is used for Toronto Pearson International Airport.
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ICAO 4-letter codes
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) uses three-letter codes to identify airports and cities worldwide. These codes are often based on the first three letters of the airport's city, for example, ATL for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, or MEX for Mexico City.
However, on some flight-tracking services, you may come across a four-letter airport code. These are ICAO codes. ICAO is the International Civil Aviation Organization, and its four-letter codes are distributed by region and country. The first letter stands for the region in which the airport is located, and the second for the country. For example, the ICAO code for Heathrow International Airport in London is EGLL, with EG reflecting that it is based in the United Kingdom.
ICAO codes are especially useful for radio communication. For example, if a pilot is flying to Moscow's Sheremetyevo Alexander S. Pushkin International Airport, they can use the airport's ICAO code UUEE, and say "Uniform-Uniform-Echo-Echo" over the radio.
Some countries have introduced a scheme of sub-ICAO codes. France, for instance, uses pseudo ICAO codes in the style LFddnn, where dd indicates the department and nn is a sequential counter.
In some cases, an airport may have two ICAO codes, usually when it is shared by civilian and military users. For example, Frankfurt Airport in Germany has been assigned ICAO code EDDF, while Rhein-Main Air Base was assigned ICAO code EDAF until its closure.
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Airport code origins
Airport codes are three- or four-letter combinations that are used to identify airports and, in some cases, metropolitan areas. The three-letter codes are known as IATA codes, which is short for International Air Transport Association codes. These codes are often derived from the name of the airport or the city it serves. For example, the IATA code for New York's LaGuardia Airport is LGA, HOU stands for Houston's Hobby Airport, and MCO is for Orlando International Airport, formerly McCoy Air Force Base.
Some IATA codes are derived from the airport's former or unofficial name. For instance, Chicago's O'Hare International Airport is coded ORD, which stands for its original name, Orchard Field. In another instance, Kahului Airport's IATA code is OGG, which comes from the local aviation pioneer, Jimmy Hogg.
In large metropolitan areas, airport codes are often named after the airport itself, while another code is reserved for the city it serves. For example, Bucharest's Otopeni Airport is coded OTP, while the city's business airport, Băneasa, is coded BBU.
The four-letter airport codes are called ICAO codes, which are defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization. These codes are used globally in flight operations and air traffic control. They are distributed by region and country, with the first one or two letters indicating the country, and the remaining letters identifying the airport. For instance, EGLL is the ICAO code for Heathrow International Airport in London, with EG reflecting that it is based in the United Kingdom.
ICAO codes are subject to certain rules, such as not beginning with the letters I, J, or X, as these are reserved for specific purposes. They allow for more than 450,000 unique combinations, ensuring that each airport has a unique identifier.
In addition to IATA and ICAO codes, there are also FAA LIDs, which are three or four-letter codes assigned by the Federal Aviation Administration to airports within the United States. These codes are used in domestic flight operations and can include numbers as well as letters.
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Why airport codes are used
Airport codes are used to make air travel easier and more streamlined. They provide a quick way to reference an airport, which is useful when space is limited, such as on a boarding pass or luggage tag. The use of codes also simplifies radio communication, allowing pilots to use a four-letter code or the phonetic alphabet instead of a difficult foreign airport name.
IATA airport codes, also known as IATA location identifiers, are three-letter geocodes that designate airports and metropolitan areas worldwide. These codes are determined based on how the airport wants to identify itself and the availability of letter combinations. They are used for passenger-facing operations and can be found on tickets, boarding passes, signage, and luggage tags. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is a trade association that represents airlines and has established itself as the voice of representation for air travel. While IATA's policies are not legally binding, they have become accepted as the trade standard.
ICAO airport codes, also known as location indicators, consist of four letters and are used within the aviation industry, including pilots, air traffic control, and airline operations planners. These codes follow a more rigid structure based on an airport's geography and region. They are considered "official" codes and are commonly seen on private flight-tracking services.
The assignment of airport codes can vary. Some codes are derived from the first three letters of the city or airport's name, such as ATL for Atlanta or JFK for New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. Other codes are based on former or historical names, like ORD for Chicago's O'Hare Airport, which was previously known as Orchard Field. Some airports use the two-letter city code assigned by the National Weather Service with an "X" added, such as LAX for Los Angeles. Canadian airport codes often begin with "Y" followed by two letters in the city's name, like YVR for Vancouver.
In large metropolitan areas, airport codes may be named after the airport itself rather than the city it serves, while another code refers to the city. For example, Buenos Aires (BUE) has an airport named Ezeiza (EZE) after the suburb where it is located, while another airport in the city proper is named Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP).
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How airport codes are chosen
Airport codes are three- or four-letter codes assigned to airports across the world. They are used to distinguish airports, ensure there is no confusion between countries and cities, and are used on passengers' documents, flight tickets, and luggage tags.
There are two sets of airport codes: IATA (International Air Transport Association) and ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization). IATA codes are three-letter codes used for passenger-facing operations, while ICAO codes are four-letter codes used within the industry by pilots, air traffic control, and airline operations planners.
The IATA three-letter codes are determined by ensuring they are unique and not in use by any other entity. The code might be based on the name of the airport, the city, or some other meaningful and relevant identifier if the desired letters are already taken. For example, MIA for Miami International Airport, and ATH for Athens International Airport.
The ICAO four-letter codes are more rigidly structured, with the first letter referring to a larger region, the second showing the country within that region, and the last two letters being a two-letter abbreviation. For example, Barcelona’s Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport’s ICAO code is LEBL – “L” for southern Europe, “E” for Spain, and “BL” for Barcelona.
The practice of assigning airport codes originated in the 1930s, when airport codes consisted of a combination of two letters. However, as the number of airports increased, this method became impractical and, in the 1960s, IATA introduced the three-letter code system we use today.
Some airports may have their codes reassigned when they are replaced by new airports, leaving the new airport with a code that no longer corresponds with the city's name. For example, the original airport in Nashville, Tennessee, was Berry Field (BNA), but the new airport built in 1987 is still identified by the same code, despite the change in airport name.
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Frequently asked questions
An IATA airport code is a three-letter code used to identify airports and metropolitan areas.
IATA stands for the International Air Transport Association.
Airport codes are useful because they are a quick way to reference an airport, which is especially helpful when space is limited, such as on a boarding pass.
Three-letter airport codes are commonly used for IATA codes, which are often seen by passengers on items such as tickets and luggage. Four-letter airport codes are ICAO codes, which are used for official purposes such as Air Traffic Control and flight plans.
Airport codes are chosen in a variety of ways. Some are based on the first three letters of the airport's city, while others are based on the airport's name.
