Jazmin Li
Airport codes are three-letter acronyms assigned to every airport in the world. These codes are used to distinguish airports and ensure there is no confusion between cities and countries for airlines and aviation professionals. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) assigns these codes, which are often based on the first three letters of the city the airport is located in, the airport name, or something relevant to the area. The first airport codes were established in the 1930s and were only two letters, but as the number of airports grew, it became necessary to expand to a three-letter code system.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of letters in airport codes | 3 letters |
| Who assigns the airport codes | The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) |
| Who uses the IATA codes | Passengers |
| Who uses the ICAO codes | Pilots, air traffic controllers, and other aviation professionals |
| When did airport coding begin | 1930s |
| When did the two-letter code system change to a three-letter code system | 1940s |
| When did IATA step in to standardize the process | 1960s |
| How many codes are assigned | About 11,300 |
| How many new codes are assigned each year | 40-50 |
| Are the codes ever changed | Very rarely |
| What happens if there is a concern over air safety | IATA may change the code |
| Are there four-letter codes | Yes, used internationally |
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What You'll Learn
IATA and ICAO assign airport codes
Airport codes are three- or four-letter codes assigned to every airport in the world. Two official entities, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), assign specific codes to every airport.
The first airport codes were established in the 1930s and were only two letters. Airlines typically chose their own two-letter codes, often using the National Weather Service two-letter identifier. However, with the expansion of air travel, the system shifted to the three-letter code we know today. Los Angeles International Airport, for instance, was originally just "LA," but became LAX in 1947.
The IATA stepped in during the 1960s when the airlines decided they needed a standardized process to avoid confusion. Today, IATA 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 running of hundreds of electronic applications built around these coding systems for passenger and cargo traffic purposes.
IATA codes are usually derived from the name of the airport or the city it serves. For example, JFK for New York's John F. Kennedy Airport, BWI for Baltimore/Washington International Airport, and BDL for Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Connecticut. In some cases, the code comes from the airport's unofficial name, former name, or a notable figure associated with the airport. For instance, Kahului Airport's OGG honours local aviation pioneer Jimmy Hogg, and Knoxville's TYS is named for Charles McGhee Tyson, whose family donated the land for the airport. In large metropolitan areas, airport codes are often named after the airport itself, while another code is reserved to refer to the city it serves. For example, Chicago (CHI) – O'Hare (ORD), named after Orchard Field, the airport's former name, Midway (MDW), and Rockford (RFD).
ICAO codes are distributed by region and country and are used by air traffic control and by airlines in crafting their flight plans. The first one or two letters of the ICAO code indicate the country, and 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. Some airports have two ICAO codes, usually when an airport is shared by civilian and military users. For instance, Frankfurt Airport in Germany has the ICAO code EDDF, while the now-closed Rhein-Main Air Base was assigned ICAO code EDAF.
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Airport codes are three or four letters long
Airport codes are typically three letters long, but they can also be four letters long. The three-letter codes are assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and are used primarily for passengers. The four-letter codes are assigned by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and are used by pilots, air traffic controllers, and other aviation professionals.
The three-letter codes were introduced in the 1960s by the IATA to create a standardised and uniform system for identifying airports worldwide. Before this, in the 1930s and 1940s, airport codes were typically two letters, but the expansion of air travel and the increasing number of airports made it necessary to switch to a three-letter system. In some cases, an “X” was simply added to existing two-letter codes, such as “LA” becoming “LAX”.
The three-letter codes are often based on the first three letters of the city or airport name, like John F. Kennedy Airport in New York (JFK) or London Heathrow Airport (LHR). However, they can also be derived from other relevant factors, such as the airport's former name, its location, or an influential figure connected to the airport. For instance, OGG is the code for Kahului Airport in Hawaii, honouring aviation pioneer Bertram J. Hogg.
The four-letter codes are structured so that the first letter represents the country, and the remaining three letters identify the specific airport. For example, “KFLL” is the code for Florida's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, with “K” representing the United States, and “FLL” being the airport's specific code. Canadian airport codes usually begin with "C", like "CYOW" for Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport.
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Airport codes are based on location
Airport codes are based on a variety of factors, and while location is one of them, there are other considerations as well. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) assigns three-letter airport codes that are used when booking flights or on plane tickets. These codes are known as IATA location identifiers. The first letter of the code represents the country, and the remaining three letters mark the specific airport. For example, the code for Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is KFLL, with "K" representing the United States, and "FLL" as the specific airport code.
In some cases, the airport code is derived from the name of the city or the airport itself. For instance, New York's John F. Kennedy Airport is coded JFK, and Los Angeles International Airport is coded LAX. Some airport codes are based on the airport's former or unofficial name, like Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, coded ORD for its original name, Orchard Field.
A few airport codes are based on their location within a larger metropolitan area. For example, Bucharest's Otopeni Airport is coded OTP, named after the town of Otopeni where it is located, while Buenos Aires' Ezeiza Airport is coded EZE, named after the suburb of Ezeiza Partido.
In rare instances, airport codes may be derived from other relevant factors related to the area. Fresno Yosemite International Airport's code, FAT, is derived from its previous name, Fresno Air Terminal. Similarly, Kahului Airport's code, OGG, honours local aviation pioneer Jimmy Hogg.
It's worth noting that the first airport codes were established in the 1930s and were only two letters long. However, with the expansion of air travel, a shift to the three-letter code system occurred by the late 1940s to accommodate the increasing number of airports.
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Airport codes are based on airport names
Airport codes are three-letter geocode designations assigned to airports and metropolitan areas worldwide by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The first airport codes were established in the 1930s and were only two letters long. Airlines typically chose their own two-letter codes, which were based on the National Weather Service two-letter identifier. However, with the expansion of air travel and the increasing number of airports, the system shifted to the three-letter code we know today.
Some airport codes are based on the name of the city or airport, or something relevant to the area. For example, New York's John F. Kennedy Airport uses the code JFK, and Los Angeles International Airport uses the code LAX. Some codes are based on previous names associated with the airport, often with a military heritage. For instance, Chicago's O'Hare Airport is coded ORD, based on its former name of Orchard Field. Other codes are derived from the names of administrative divisions or nearby cities.
In some cases, the code may come from the airport's unofficial name or something relevant to the area. For example, Kahului Airport in Hawaii uses the code OGG, in honour of local aviation pioneer Jimmy Hogg (or Bertram J. Hogg, according to another source). In large metropolitan areas, airport codes are often named after the airport itself, rather than the city it serves. For instance, Chicago's O'Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW) airports are named after their respective former and current names, while Rockford (RFD) is named after the town it is located in.
Some cities have a local name in their respective language that differs from the English name, but the airport code represents only the English name. For example, Bangkok, Thailand's airport uses the code BKK, derived from the English transliteration of the local name, Krung Thep. Similarly, Cairo, Egypt's airport uses the code CAI, derived from the English transliteration of the Arabic name, al-Qāhirah.
In rare cases, airport codes may be assigned based on unique or humorous reasons. For instance, Sioux City, Iowa's Gateway Airport is coded SUX, and officials have embraced the unfortunate assignment by creating a line of products with the slogan "Fly SUX".
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Airport codes are based on city names
Airport codes are three-letter acronyms assigned to every official airport in the world. These codes are based on a variety of factors, including the name of the city the airport serves, the name of the airport itself, or something relevant to the area.
Many airport codes are based on the names of the cities they serve. For example, New York City's John F. Kennedy Airport is coded JFK, New York's LaGuardia Airport is coded LGA, and Newark Airport is coded EWR. Similarly, Chicago's O'Hare Airport is coded ORD, Midway Airport is coded MDW, and Rockford Airport is coded RFD. Los Angeles International Airport, often referred to as LAX, gets its code from its city's initials, "LA," with the addition of the letter "X" to create a three-letter code.
Some airport codes are based on the former names of the airports or the cities they serve. For instance, Chicago's O'Hare Airport is coded ORD, which stands for Orchard Field, its former name. Orlando International Airport's code, MCO, comes from McCoy Air Force Base, its previous name. Similarly, Fresno Yosemite International Airport uses FAT, derived from its previous name, Fresno Air Terminal.
In some cases, airport codes are derived from the names of people associated with the airport or the city. For example, Owerri in Nigeria uses the code QOW. Knoxville's airport code, TYS, is derived from Charles McGhee Tyson, whose family donated the land for the airport. Kahului Airport in Hawaii is coded OGG, in honour of aviation pioneer Bertram J. Hogg.
While most airport codes are three letters long, some are four letters, with the first letter representing the country and the remaining three letters marking the specific airport. For instance, Florida's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is coded KFLL, with "K" representing the United States, and "FLL" representing the airport.
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Frequently asked questions
Airport codes are typically three-letter codes, such as JFK for New York's John F. Kennedy Airport or LAX for Los Angeles International Airport. However, there is also a four-letter code used internationally, such as KFLL for Florida's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, where the first letter represents the country and the remaining three letters mark the specific airport.
Two official entities, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), assign specific codes to every airport.
Airport coding first began in the 1930s, with airlines choosing their own two-letter codes. However, by the late 1940s, there were too many airports, and the system shifted to the three-letter code we know today.
Airport codes can be based on the name of the city, the name of the airport, or something relevant to the area. For example, OGG for Kahului Airport is named after local aviation pioneer Jimmy Hogg. In large metropolitan areas, airport codes are often named after the airport itself, such as JFK for New York's John F. Kennedy Airport.
Once an airport code is assigned, it is rarely changed. For example, Oakland, California's airport recently voted to rename itself the San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport but will keep its original OAK code. However, the IATA may change a code due to air safety concerns, such as when Washington Dulles International Airport was changed from DIA to IAD to avoid confusion with the nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
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