Owais Crawford
Calgary International Airport, branded as YYC Calgary International Airport and located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is assigned the airport code YYC. While the exact reasoning behind the code is unknown, it is speculated that the first Y in the designation indicates that the weather station is located at the airport, and the remaining YC may be related to the radio beacon code. Canada's airports typically start with CY or CZ, and Calgary International Airport's technical identifiers are TCLID-YYC, IATA-YYC, and ICAO-CYYC.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | Calgary International Airport |
| IATA Code | YYC |
| ICAO Code | CYYC |
| TCLID | YYC |
| Location | 17 kilometres (11 mi) northeast of downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Area | 20.82 square kilometres (8.04 sq mi; 5,144 acres; 2,082 ha) |
| Passengers (2024) | 18.9 million |
| Aircraft movements (2023) | 202,497 |
| Ranking in Canada | 4th busiest |
| Hotels | Calgary Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel; Delta Hotels by Marriott Calgary Airport In-Terminal |
| Air Traffic Control Tower Height | 91 metres (299 ft) |
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What You'll Learn
YYC is the airport's IATA code
The Y in the airport designation originally meant that the weather station was co-located at the airport. The Yxx identifier was for an airport, and Zxx was for an aerodrome. Under ICAO, all Canadian airport codes start with CY or CZ. Therefore, Calgary International Airport has three identifiers: TCLID-YYC, IATA-YYC, and ICAO-CYYC.
The airport is branded as YYC Calgary International Airport and is located approximately 17 kilometres (11 mi) northeast of downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It covers an area of 20.82 square kilometres (8.04 sq mi; 5,144 acres; 2,082 ha). With 18.9 million passengers in 2024, it is the busiest airport in Alberta and the fourth-busiest in Canada by passenger traffic.
The airport features two north-south parallel runways and one intersecting runway. The parallel runways are 17R/35L (west) and 17L/35R (east). There are also two hotels located on-site: the Calgary Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel and the Delta Hotels by Marriott Calgary Airport In-Terminal.
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YYC is also used in the airport's branding
The branding of Calgary International Airport incorporates its airport code, YYC, in its name. The airport is branded as YYC Calgary International Airport. This branding is used in various contexts, such as when referring to the airport's passenger traffic ("YYC airport"), the link between terminals ("YYC Link"), and public transportation to and from the airport ("Buses operated by Calgary Transit link YYC Calgary International to downtown").
The use of YYC in the airport's branding serves to create a unique and memorable identity for the airport. It also provides a concise and easily recognisable name that can be used to efficiently refer to the airport in various contexts, such as in marketing and promotional materials, and in day-to-day operations and communications.
The YYC code is also used in the airport's IATA (International Air Transport Association) and TCLID (Transport Canada ID) designations. The IATA code is used to identify airports worldwide, and the TCLID code is specific to Canadian airports. The YYC code is a concise and practical way to refer to the airport in the aviation industry and for airport operations.
While the exact reasoning behind the YYC code is not entirely clear, there are some speculations. One theory suggests that the first "Y" in Canadian airport codes indicates that the weather station was co-located at the airport, and the remaining "YC" may have been assigned based on various factors, such as the availability of codes and the need to distinguish it from other airports.
Overall, the use of YYC in the airport's branding and designations provides a concise and distinctive identity for Calgary International Airport, facilitating efficient communication and promoting a sense of uniqueness for the airport and the city it serves.
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The first Y may indicate a co-located weather station
The airport code for Calgary International Airport is YYC. While the exact reason for this is hard to pinpoint, one theory suggests that the first "Y" in the airport code might indicate that there was a co-located weather station at the airport.
Calgary International Airport is located in Alberta, Canada, and serves the city of Calgary. It is situated around 17 kilometres (11 miles) northeast of downtown Calgary and covers an area of 20.82 square kilometres (8.04 square miles). With approximately 18.9 million passengers in 2024 and 202,497 aircraft movements in 2023, it is not only the busiest airport in Alberta but also the fourth busiest in all of Canada.
The airport consists of two north-south parallel runways and one intersecting runway. The parallel runways, 17R/35L (west) and 17L/35R (east), are used for aircraft arriving and departing to the west and east, respectively. Calgary International Airport features two hotels on-site: the Calgary Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel and the Delta Hotels by Marriott Calgary Airport In-Terminal. Additionally, it is home to the headquarters of WestJet and its subsidiary, WestJet Encore.
In terms of transportation, the airport provides access to Deerfoot Trail, which connects to the rest of the city. Public transport options include buses operated by Calgary Transit, linking the airport to downtown and other parts of Calgary.
While the airport code YYC remains a bit of a mystery, the theory that the first "Y" relates to a co-located weather station is an interesting piece of the puzzle in understanding the designation.
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Canada's airport codes usually match the ICAO code
Canada is known for its airport codes starting with the letter Y. However, there are airports outside of Canada that also use the letter Y at the start of their airport codes. For example, YAI is the code for General Bernardo O'Higgins Airport in Chillán, Chile.
There are two entities responsible for allocating codes to airports. The first is the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which assigns four-letter codes to public and private airports. It is mostly for official use, such as air traffic control, flight plans, and airline identification. In most cases, the first letter of the ICAO airport code indicates the region, the second letter refers to the country, and the remaining two letters are assigned to a specific airport.
The second entity is the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the trade association of the world's airlines. Mainly used for commercial purposes, the three-letter IATA airport codes can be found on plane tickets, boarding passes, baggage tags, and domestic flight numbers. Due to the three-letter character limit, not all IATA codes are unique, so there are some instances where two airports could have the same code. The last three letters of an ICAO code can sometimes be the same as the IATA code, but it is not always the case.
Canada and the USA are generally exceptions in that their codes are usually the same. Add a 'C' to Canadian IATA codes to get the ICAO code, and a 'K' to US ones. For example, Calgary International Airport's IATA code is YYC, and its ICAO code is CYYC.
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YYC is the fourth-busiest airport in Canada
YYC Calgary International Airport, formerly known as Calgary International Airport, is located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is situated approximately 17 kilometres (11 miles) northeast of downtown Calgary and occupies an area of 20.82 square kilometres (8.04 square miles).
YYC Calgary International Airport is the fourth-busiest airport in Canada by passenger traffic and aircraft movements. In 2024, the airport handled 18.9 million passengers and 202,497 aircraft movements, making it the busiest airport in Alberta. The airport's growth has been attributed to the region's thriving petroleum and tourism industries, as well as its proximity to Banff National Park. YYC offers non-stop flights to various destinations in North America, Central America, Europe, and Asia.
The airport's IATA code, YYC, was incorporated into its name in October 2016 by Transport Canada. The origin of the YYC identifier is not entirely clear, but it is speculated that the first "Y" indicates the co-location of a weather station at the airport. The radio beacon (NDB) may have been assigned the code "YC". Canadian airport codes typically start with ""CY" or "CZ", followed by a unique combination of letters.
YYC Calgary International Airport features two north-south parallel runways and one intersecting runway. Runway 17L/35R, which opened in 2014, is the longest runway in Canada. The airport is served by the Calgary International Airport Emergency Response Service, providing aircraft rescue and firefighting services. Additionally, the airport has freeway access to the city via Deerfoot Trail and public transport options, including bus and light rail services.
YYC Calgary International Airport is a significant aviation hub in Canada, catering to both domestic and international travel demands. Its status as the fourth-busiest airport in the country underscores its importance to the region's economy and connectivity.
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Frequently asked questions
Calgary International Airport is branded as YYC Calgary International Airport and has the IATA code YYC and the ICAO code CYYC.
IATA stands for International Air Transport Association.
ICAO stands for International Civil Aviation Organization.
The first Y in an airport designation indicates that the weather station was co-located at the airport.
It is difficult to find a definitive answer, but Canadian airport codes usually start with CY or CZ, and YYC fits this pattern.
