airport codes explained a lesson about three and four letter airport codes click here to start
TRANSCRIPT
Airport Codes Explained
A LESSON ABOUT THREE AND FOUR LETTER AIRPORT CODES
CLICK HERE TO START
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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
BackNot ready yet? Go back to the main content area
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