How Are Airport Codes Assigned?
These three-letter alphabetic codes are assigned to every airport worldwide by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and are used for ticketing and baggage tags. Most are derived from the city or airport name, though a handful of codes bear little resemblance to the name for historical reasons.
IATA Codes vs. ICAO Codes
The three-letter IATA code is mainly used for ticketing, while a separate four-letter ICAO code is used for air traffic control and flight operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
If a city has multiple airports, does each one get its own code?
Yes β cities with multiple airports, like Tokyo (Narita/NRT and Haneda/HND) or Seoul (Incheon/ICN and Gimpo/GMP), assign a separate code to each airport.
Are IATA codes and ICAO codes different?
Yes β the three-letter IATA code is mainly used for ticketing, while the separate four-letter ICAO code is used specifically for air traffic control and flight operations.