Airport Codes Explained

A LESSON ABOUT THREE AND FOUR LETTER AIRPORT CODES

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Lesson Plan

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Objectives

Airport Codes

Quiz

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Why do airport codes matter?

As the airport system grew in size in the 1930’s, it was necessary to designate airports with a three letter code, enabling 17,576 different unique identifiers

As an aviation management student, you will soon realize that most aviation professionals will refer to airports by their letter codes only, necessitating the need for you to have a basic understanding of the most important airport codes

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But before we get started … Based on the airport code shown , click on the correct city name:

Chicago O’Hare

Los Angeles Intl. Airport

Newark Liberty International

But before we get started … Based on the airport code shown , click on the correct city name:

Chicago O’Hare

Los Angeles Intl. Airport

Newark Liberty International

Wrong, try again!

But before we get started … Based on the airport code shown , click on the correct city name:

Next

Chicago O’Hare

Los Angeles Intl. Airport

Newark Liberty International

You’ve got it! Great job!

But before we get started … Based on the airport code shown , click on the correct city name:

Calgary International Airport

Vancouver International Airport

Toronto Pearson Airport

But before we get started … Based on the airport code shown , click on the correct city name:

Calgary International Airport

Vancouver International Airport

Toronto Pearson Airport

Wrong, try again!

But before we get started … Based on the airport code shown , click on the correct city name:

Next

Calgary International Airport

Vancouver International Airport

Toronto Pearson Airport

You’ve got it! Great job!

Objectives

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Identify airport letter codes for major airports

Understand the different systems of airport codes

1 2

Airport Letter Code Systems

LAX for Los Angeles

As you have seen in the intro quiz, many airports have easy to derive letter codes:

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YYZ for Toronto

Others do not:

Airport Letter Code Systems

OAK for Oakland

As you have seen in the intro quiz, many airports have easy to derive letter codes:

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ORD for Chicago O’Hare

Others do not:

Airport Letter Code Systems

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The more often used 3-letter airport codes are mostly determined by IATA, the

International Air Transport Association

The 4-letter airport codes used by pilots are

determined by ICAO, the International Civil Aviation

Organization, A United Nations specialized agency

1 2The problem is that these two standards may or may

not align. More on the next slide!

ICAO four

letter codes

IATA three letter codes

Airport Letter Code Systems

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For most airports, no similarity exists:

VIE– IATA CodeLOWW– ICAO Code

Some overlap exists between the two different systems:

LAX – IATA CodeKLAX – ICAO Code

ICAO four

letter codes

IATA three letter codes

Airport Letter Code Systems

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Some, however, have only ICAO designators

or only IATA designators

Most airports have both ICAO and IATA

letter codes

Airport Letter Code Systems

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For ICAO airport codes, the geographic location determines the first letter of the

airport identifier.

Click on the United States to see some

airport codes

Airport Letter Code Systems

Watch the YouTube video on this slide to get even more information about

3-letter airport codes

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Airport Letter Code Systems

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LAXLos Angeles International Airport

Before the 1930’s, airports had two-letter codes. When codes

switched to three letters, many added the letter ‘X’ to the end. LA

(Los Angeles) became LAX.

ORDChicago O’Hare International Airport

Before the airport was renamed after Medal of Honor recipient Edward O’Hare in 1949, it was

known as Orchard Field Airport.

JFK John F. Kennedy International Airport New

York

In 1963, Idlewild Airport was renamed in dedication to John F.

Kennedy. It also changed its three-letter airport code from IDL to JFK.

The stories can help you to memorize the airport codes!

Airport Letter Code Systems

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IADDulles International Airport

Washington D.C.

Dulles International Airport’s three-letter code was once DIA. When hand-written, it was often

misread as DCA, another Washington airport. It was

reversed to IAD to avoid confusion.

DFWDallas/Fort Worth International Airport

Dallas–Fort Worth

For decades Dallas and Fort Worth ran competing airports, but in 1969 construction finally

began on a joint airport to serve the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

SFOSan Francisco International Airport

San Francisco

Before the 1930’s, airports had two-letter codes. When codes switched

to three letters, many added the letter ‘X’ to the end. San Francisco

instead used its last letter ‘O’.

The stories can help you to memorize the airport codes!

YVRVancouver International Airport

Vancouver, Canada

Y designates a Canadian airport. Vancouver International is actually

located in the city of Richmond, but gets its other two letters from the

major port city it serves, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Airport Letter Code Systems

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YYCCalgary International Airport

Calgary, Canada

With a few exceptions, airport codes starting with ‘Y’ designate Canadian airports. The second ‘Y’ is a filler letter and the ‘C’ comes

from its home in the city of Calgary.

YYZPearson International Airport

Toronto, Canada

Y designates a Canadian airport. The ‘YZ’ isn't as clear, but is said

to be the old railway station code for Malton, an area west of Toronto where the airport is

located.

Remember: All Canadian three letter airport codes start with a ‘Y’

Airport Letter Code Systems

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ABCAeropuerto de Albacete

Albacete, Spain

Opened in 1929, Albacete Airport is located on Los Llanos Air Base and serves the city of Albacete.

SUXSioux Gateway Airport

Sioux City, USA

Sioux City petitioned twice to have its airport code SUX changed. With no great

alternatives, they stuck with it and now use the slogan “Fly SUX.”

DOHDoha Airport, Qatar

Often called “New Doha Airport,” Hamad International opened in May

of 2014, replacing Doha International Airport as the primary

airport for Qatar’s capital city.

Airport Letter Code Systems

Do you have a “home airport” and would you like to find out the story behind its code? Click on the picture to open a website and find out for yourself!

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It’s Quiz Time

ICAO and IATA airport codes are always identical

Answer the following question:

True

False

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It’s Quiz Time

ICAO and IATA airport codes are always identical

Answer the following question:

True

False

Wrong, try again!

It’s Quiz Time

ICAO and IATA airport codes are always identical

Answer the following question:

True

False

You’ve got it, great job!

ICAO and IATA airport codes are only

sometimes identical

Next

It’s Quiz Time Answer the following question:

JFK is the airport designation for Newark

International Airport

True

False

It’s Quiz Time Answer the following question:

JFK is the airport designation for Newark

International Airport

True

False

Wrong, try again!

It’s Quiz Time Answer the following question:

JFK is the airport designation for Newark

International Airport

True

False

You’ve got it, great job!

EWR is the airport code for Newark

Next

It’s Quiz Time Answer the following question:

What would be the ICAO airport code for Boston, given

that the IATA code is ‘BOS’

Next

Type your answer here:

It’s Quiz Time Answer the following question:

What would be the ICAO airport code for Boston, given

that the IATA code is ‘BOS’

Next

If you entered, KBOS, great job! If not, you may want to go back to the slides to review the material

It’s Quiz Time Answer the following question:

What was the story behind the three letter code of

Chicago O’Hare?

Next

Type your answer here:

It’s Quiz Time Answer the following question:

What was the story behind the three letter code of

Chicago O’Hare?

Next

If you entered that prior to 1949, the airport was known as Orchard Field Airport, great job! If not, you may want to review the lesson.

It’s Quiz Time Answer the following question:

Most airports have both ICAO and IATA airport code. Some however, have only a three or a four letter code,

but not both.

True

False

It’s Quiz Time Answer the following question:

Most airports have both ICAO and IATA airport code. Some however, have only a three or a four letter code,

but not both.

True

False

Wrong, try again!

It’s Quiz Time Answer the following question:

Most airports have both ICAO and IATA airport code. Some however, have only a three or a four letter code,

but not both.

True

False

You’ve got it, great job!

Next

It’s Quiz Time Answer the following question:

The three letter codes for Canadian airports always

end with the letter ‘Z’ – for example – YYZ for Toronto

True

False

It’s Quiz Time Answer the following question:

The three letter codes for Canadian airports always

end with the letter ‘Z’ – for example – YYZ for Toronto

True

False

Wrong, try again!

It’s Quiz Time Answer the following question:

The three letter codes for Canadian airports always

end with the letter ‘Z’ – for example – YYZ for Toronto

True

False

You’ve got it, great job!

Canadian airports codes always start with the letter ‘Y’

Next

It’s Quiz Time

ORD

YYZ

JFK

MIA

LAX

SFO

YVR YYC

IAD

ATLDFW

Click on the three letter code for

Vancouver International Airport

It’s Quiz Time

ORD

YYZ

JFK

MIA

LAX

SFO

YVR YYC

IAD

ATLDFW

Wrong, try again!

It’s Quiz Time

ORD

YYZ

JFK

MIA

LAX

SFO

YVR YYC

IAD

ATLDFW

You’ve got it, great job!

That is the airport code for Vancouver!

Next

Great job! You have successfully completed this lesson!

Objectives

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Identify airport letter codes for major U.S. airports

Understand the methodology of airport codes

1 2

Airport Letter Code Systems

LAX for Los AngelesHKG for Hong Kong

As you can see, many airports have easy to derive letter codes:

NextBack

ORD for Chicago O’Hare

Others do not:

Airport Letter Code Systems

NextBack

For ICAO airport codes, the geographic location determines the first letter of the

airport identifier.

Click on the United States to see some

airport codes

Los Angeles: KLAXNew York, La Guardia: KLGA

Chicago O’Hare: KORD

Are you starting to see a pattern?

For the U.S., ICAO airports are structured as K + IATA airport code

It’s Quiz Time

ORD

YYZ

JFK

MIA

LAX

SFO

YVR YYC

IAD

ATLDFW

Click on the three letter code for

Vancouver International Airport