View source for IATA airport code

{{Short description|Three-letter air-travel designation for airports and cities}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}{{Use British English|date=January 2025}}
{{For|a list of airports by IATA code|Lists of airports#By IATA code}}
{{Distinguish|ICAO airport code}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2021}}

[[File:URAluggage.jpg|thumb|upright|A baggage tag for a flight heading to [[Oral Ak Zhol Airport]], whose IATA airport code is "URA"]]

An '''IATA airport code''', also known as an '''IATA location identifier''', '''IATA station code''', or simply a '''[[location identifier]]''', is a unique three-letter [[geocode]] designating many [[airport]]s, cities (with one or more airports) and [[metropolitan area]]s (cities with more than one airport) around the world, defined by the [[International Air Transport Association]] (IATA).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Airline and Location Code Search|url=https://www.iata.org/en/publications/directories/code-search/|access-date=2021-06-19|website=Iata.org|language=en}}</ref> The characters prominently displayed on [[bag tag|baggage tags]] attached at [[airport check-in]] desks are an example of a way these codes are used.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Baggage Standards|url=https://www.iata.org/en/programs/ops-infra/baggage/standards/|access-date=2021-06-19|website=Iata.org|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Directory of Strategic Partners|url=https://www.iata.org/en/about/sp/partners-directory/|access-date=2021-06-19|website=Iata.org|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=BAGTAG – For everyone who likes to travel smart, easy and fast.|url=https://bagtag.com/|access-date=2021-06-19|website=Bagtag.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

The assignment of these codes is governed by IATA Resolution 763,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Understanding Airport Location Identifiers|url=https://airportguide.com/airport_ids_paper.php|access-date=2021-06-19|website=Airportguide.com|language=en-us}}</ref> and it is administered by the IATA's headquarters in [[Montreal]], Canada. The codes are published semi-annually in the IATA Airline Coding Directory.

IATA also provides codes for airport handling entities, and for certain railway stations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-03-02 |title=IATA 3-Letters Station Codes |url=http://www.igccllc.net/en/tools/airfreight/station-codes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624202926/http://www.igccllc.net/en/tools/airfreight/station-codes |archive-date=2021-06-24 |access-date=2021-06-19 |website=Igccllc.net |url-status=usurped |language=en}}</ref>

[[Lists of airports by IATA and ICAO code|Alphabetical lists of airports]] sorted by IATA code are available. A [[List of IATA-indexed railway stations|list of railway station codes]], shared in agreements between airlines and rail lines such as [[Amtrak]], [[SNCF]], and {{Lang|de|[[Deutsche Bahn]]|italic=no}}, is available. However, many railway administrations have their own list of codes for their stations, such as [[List of Amtrak stations|Amtrak station codes]].

==History==
Airport codes arose out of the convenience that the practice brought pilots for location identification in the 1930s. Initially, pilots in the United States used the two-letter code from the [[National Weather Service]] (NWS) for identifying cities. This system became unmanageable for cities and towns without an NWS identifier, and the use of two letters allowed only a few hundred combinations; a three-letter system of airport codes was implemented. This system allowed for 17,576 permutations, assuming all letters can be used in conjunction with each other.<ref name="sky">{{cite web|title=Airport ABCs: An Explanation of Airport Identifier Codes|year=1994|url=http://www.skygod.com/asstd/abc.html|work=Air Line Pilot|publisher=Air Line Pilots Association|access-date=6 January 2012|archive-date=7 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207201206/http://skygod.com/asstd/abc.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the early days of aviation, airport codes frequently adopted (or were required to comply with) the naming conventions previously established by [[weather stations]], [[List_of_IATA-indexed_railway_stations,_bus_stations_and_ferry_terminals|railway stations]], and other commercial or governmental outposts that communicated by radio or telegraph. The code names for those stations, which usually predated the use of [[two-way radio]] and even [[radiotelephony]] itself, reflected the need for terse, standardized signaling patterns that could be easily transmitted and correctly received via [[radiotelegraphy]] and [[Morse code]].

==Naming conventions==

===National policies===
====Canada====
{{More citations needed|section|date=February 2025}}

Canada's unusual codes, which bear little to no similarity with any conventional abbreviation to the city's name (such as [[Montréal–Trudeau International Airport|YUL]] in [[Montréal]] and [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|YYZ]] in [[Toronto]]), originated from the two-letter codes used to identify weather reporting stations in the 1930s. The letters preceding the two-letter code follow the following format:

* Y – for ''"Yes"'', this letter was used when the station shared its location with an airport.
* W – for ''"Without"'', when the weather-reporting station did not share its location with an airport.
* U – used when the station was located together with a [[non-directional beacon]] (NDB).
* X – suggesting that the last two letters of a code were already in use by a Canadian airport.
* Z – indicated that an airport code had been used for the identification of an airport in the U.S.

Most large airports in Canada have codes that begin with the letter "Y",<ref>{{cite web|date=2019-03-07|title=Why Do Canadian Airport Codes Start With The Letter 'Y'? {{!}} Airport Codes Explained|url=https://www.airfarewatchdog.com/blog/50056121/y-do-all-canadian-airport-codes-start-with-the-letter-y/|access-date=2021-06-19|website=Airfarewatchdog Blog|language=en-US}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=July 2021}} although not all "Y" codes are Canadian (for example, [[Yuma International Airport|YUM]] for [[Yuma, Arizona]], and [[Yantai Penglai International Airport|YNT]] for [[Yantai]], China), and not all Canadian airports start with the letter "Y" (for example, [[Bathurst Airport (New Brunswick)|ZBF]] for [[Bathurst, New Brunswick]]). Many Canadian airports have a code that starts with W, X or Z, but none of these are major airports. When the [[Transcontinental railroad#Canada|Canadian transcontinental railways]] were built, each station was assigned its own two-letter [[Morse code]]:

* VR for [[Vancouver]]
* TZ for [[Toronto]]
* QB for [[Quebec City]]
* WG for [[Winnipeg]]
* SJ for [[Saint John, New Brunswick|Saint John]]
* YC for [[Calgary]]
* OW for [[Ottawa]]
* EG for [[Edmonton]]

When the Canadian government established airports, it used the existing railway codes for them as well. If the airport had a weather station, authorities added a "Y" to the front of the code, meaning "Yes" to indicate it had a weather station or some other letter to indicate it did not. When international codes were created in cooperation with the United States, because "Y" was seldom used in the United States, Canada simply used the weather station codes for its airports, changing the "Y" to a "Z" if it conflicted with an airport code already in use. The result is that most major Canadian airport codes start with "Y" followed by two letters in the city's name, based on the transcontiential railroad two-letter Morse code, as mentioned above (for example, [[Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport|YOW]] for [[Ottawa|'''O'''tta'''w'''a]], [[Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport|YWG]] for [[Winnipeg|'''W'''innipe'''g''']], [[Calgary International Airport|YYC]] for [[Calgary|'''C'''algar'''y''']], or [[Vancouver International Airport|YVR]] for [[Vancouver|'''V'''ancouve'''r''']]), whereas other Canadian airports append the two-letter code of the radio beacons that were the closest to the actual airport, such as [[Gander International Airport|YQX]] in [[Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador|Gander]] or [[Prince George Airport|YXS]] in [[Prince George, British Columbia|Prince George]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}

Four of the ten provincial capital airports in Canada have ended up with codes beginning with YY, including:

* [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|YYZ]] for [[Toronto|Toronto, Ontario]]
* [[Victoria International Airport|YYJ]] for [[Victoria, British Columbia]]
* [[St. John's International Airport|YYT]] for [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador]]
* [[Charlottetown Airport|YYG]] for [[Charlottetown|Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island]]

Canada's largest airport is YYZ<ref>{{Cite web|title=This is why Toronto's airport code is YYZ|url=https://www.blogto.com/city/2019/04/why-torontos-airport-code-yyz/|access-date=2021-06-19|website=Blogto.com|language=en}}</ref> for [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|Toronto Pearson]] (as YTZ was already allocated to [[Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport]], the airport was given the station code of [[Malton, Mississauga]], where it is located). YUL is used for [[Montréal–Trudeau International Airport|Montréal–Trudeau]] (UL was the ID code for the beacon in the city of [[Kirkland, Quebec|Kirkland]]. While these codes make it difficult for the public to associate them with a particular Canadian city, some codes have become popular in usage despite their cryptic nature, particularly at the largest airports. Toronto's code has entered pop culture in the form of "[[YYZ (song)|YYZ]]", a song by the rock band [[Rush (band)|Rush]], which utilizes the Morse code signal as a musical motif. Some airports have started using their IATA codes as [[brand name]]s, such as [[Calgary International Airport]] (YYC)<ref>{{cite web|title=YYC: Calgary Airport Authority |url=http://www.yyc.com/|access-date=22 March 2015}}</ref> and [[Vancouver International Airport]] (YVR).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yvr.ca|title=Vancouver International Airport Homepage|website=Yvr.ca|access-date=2 July 2022}}</ref>

====New Zealand====
Numerous New Zealand airports use codes that contain the letter Z, to distinguish them from similar airport names in other countries. Some examples are [[Hamilton Airport (New Zealand)|HLZ]] for [[Hamilton, New Zealand|Hamilton]], [[Queenstown Airport|ZQN]] for [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]], and [[Westport Airport (New Zealand)|WSZ]] for [[Westport, New Zealand|Westport]].

====United States====
Since the [[United States Navy]] reserved "N" codes, and to prevent confusion with [[Federal Communications Commission]] [[Call signs in North America|broadcast call signs]], which begin with "W" or "K", the airports of certain U.S. cities whose name begins with one of these letters had to adopt "irregular" airport codes:

* [[Newark Liberty International Airport|EWR]] for [[Newark, New Jersey]]
* [[Tweed New Haven Airport|HVN]] for [[New Haven, Connecticut]]
* [[Norfolk International Airport|ORF]] for [[Norfolk, Virginia]]
* [[Key West International Airport|EYW]] for [[Key West|Key West, Florida]]
* [[Nome Airport|OME]] for [[Nome, Alaska]]
* [[Nashville International Airport|BNA]] for [[Nashville, Tennessee]] (whose airport's original name was ''Berry Field'')
* [[Napa County Airport|APC]] for [[Napa, California]]<ref name=sky/>
* [[Wilmington International Airport|ILM]] for [[Wilmington, North Carolina]]

This practice is not followed outside the United States:

* [[Kuala Lumpur|Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia]] is [[Kuala Lumpur International Airport|KUL]]
* [[Naples|Naples, Italy]] is [[Naples International Airport|NAP]]
* [[Nassau, The Bahamas]] is [[Lynden Pindling International Airport|NAS]]
* [[Warsaw|Warsaw, Poland]] is [[Warsaw Chopin Airport|WAW]]

In addition, since [[Q code|three letter codes starting with Q]] are widely used in radio communication, cities whose name begins with "Q" also had to find alternate codes, as in the case of:{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

* [[Qiqihar]] ([[Qiqihar Sanjiazi Airport|NDG]])
* [[Quetta]] ([[Quetta International Airport|UET]])
* [[Quito]] ([[Mariscal Sucre International Airport|UIO]])
* [[Quimper]] ([[Quimper–Cornouaille Airport|UIP]])

Even this practice is not followed universally. For instance [[Owerri]] in Nigeria uses the code [[Sam Mbakwe Airport|QOW]].

IATA codes should not be confused with the [[Location identifier#FAA identifier|FAA identifiers]] of U.S. airports. Most FAA identifiers agree with the corresponding IATA codes, but some do not, such as [[Saipan International Airport|Saipan]], whose FAA identifier is GSN and its IATA code is SPN, and some coincide with IATA codes of non-U.S. airports.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

===Naming conventions in general===
{{more citations needed|section|date=January 2024}}
{{overly detailed|section|date=January 2024}}
Many airport codes consist of the first three letters of the city where the airport is located, for instance:
* [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|AMS]] for [[Amsterdam|'''Ams'''terdam]]
* [[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport|ATL]] for [[Atlanta|'''Atl'''anta]]
* [[Logan International Airport|BOS]] for [[Boston|'''Bos'''ton]]
* [[Cleveland Hopkins International Airport|CLE]] for [[Cleveland|'''Cle'''veland]]
* [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|DEL]] for [[Delhi|'''Del'''hi]]
* [[Indianapolis International Airport|IND]] for [[Indianapolis|'''Ind'''ianapolis]]
* [[San Diego International Airport|SAN]] for [[San Diego|'''San''' Diego]]
* [[Berlin Brandenburg Airport|BER]] for [[Berlin|'''Ber'''lin]]
* [[Glasgow Airport|GLA]] for [[Glasgow|'''Gla'''sgow]]
* [[Mexico City International Airport|MEX]] for [[Mexico City|'''Mex'''ico City]]
* [[Denver International Airport|DEN]] for [[Denver|'''Den'''ver]]
* [[Istanbul Airport|IST]] for [[Istanbul|'''Ist'''anbul]]
* [[Changi Airport|SIN]] for [[Singapore|'''Sin'''gapore]]
* [[Noi Bai International Airport|HAN]] for [[Hanoi|'''Han'''oi]]
* [[Austin-Bergstrom International Airport|AUS]] for [[Austin, Texas|'''Aus'''tin]]
The code may also be another combination of the letters in the city's name, such as:
* [[Almaty International Airport|ALA]] for [[Almaty|'''Al'''m'''a'''ty]] (formerly known as '''Al'''ma-'''A'''ta)
* [[Kempegowda International Airport|BLR]] for [[Bengaluru|'''B'''enga'''l'''u'''r'''u]]
* [[Cork Airport|ORK]] for [[Cork (city)|C'''ork''']]
* [[Newark Liberty International Airport|EWR]] for [[Newark, New Jersey|N'''ew'''a'''r'''k]]
* [[Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport|GDL]] for [[Guadalajara|'''G'''ua'''d'''a'''l'''ajara]]
* [[O. R. Tambo International Airport|JNB]] for [[Johannesburg|'''J'''oha'''n'''nes'''b'''urg]]
* [[Hong Kong International Airport|HKG]] for [[Hong Kong|'''H'''ong '''K'''on'''g''']]
* [[Žilina Airport|ILZ]] for [[Žilina|'''Žil'''ina]] (but with rearranged letters)
* [[Salt Lake City International Airport|SLC]] for [[Salt Lake City|'''S'''alt '''L'''ake '''C'''ity]]
* [[Warsaw Chopin Airport|WAW]] for [[Warsaw|'''Wa'''rsa'''w''']]
* [[Phu Quoc International Airport|PQC]] for [[Phu Quoc|'''P'''hu '''Q'''uo'''c''']]

Sometimes the airport code reflects pronunciation, rather than spelling, for example:
* [[Nadi International Airport|NAN]], which reflects the pronunciation of "Nadi" as {{IPA|fj|ˈnandi|}} in [[Fijian language|Fijian]], where "d" is realized as the [[Prenasalized consonant|prenasalized stop]] {{IPA|[ⁿd]}}

For many reasons, some airport codes do not fit the normal scheme described above. Some airports, for example, cross several municipalities or regions, and therefore use codes derived from a combination of their letters, resulting in:
* DFW for [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|'''D'''allas/'''F'''ort '''W'''orth]]
* DTW for [[Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport|'''D'''etroi'''t'''–'''W'''ayne County]]
* LBA for [[Leeds Bradford International Airport|'''L'''eeds–'''B'''radford ('''A'''irport)]]
* MSP for [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport|'''M'''inneapolis–'''S'''aint '''P'''aul]]
* RDU for [[Raleigh–Durham International Airport|'''R'''aleigh–'''Du'''rham]]

Other airports—particularly those serving cities with multiple airports—have codes derived from the name of the airport itself, for instance:
* JFK for New York's [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|'''J'''ohn '''F'''. '''K'''ennedy]]
* LHR for '''L'''ondon's [[Heathrow Airport|'''H'''eath'''r'''ow Airport]]
* CDG for Paris's [[Charles de Gaulle International Airport|'''C'''harles '''d'''e '''G'''aulle]] (see below)

This is also true with some cities with a single airport (even if there is more than one airport in the metropolitan area of said city), such as BDL for [[Hartford, Connecticut]]'s [[Bradley International Airport|'''B'''ra'''dl'''ey International Airport]] or [[Baltimore, Maryland|Baltimore's]] BWI, for [[Baltimore/Washington International Airport|'''B'''altimore/'''W'''ashington '''I'''nternational Airport]]; however, the latter also serves [[Washington, D.C.]], alongside [[Dulles International Airport]] (IAD, for '''I'''nternational '''A'''irport '''D'''ulles) and [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]] (DCA, for '''D'''istrict of '''C'''olumbia '''A'''irport).<ref name="sky"/>

The code also sometimes comes from the airport's former name, such as [[Orlando International Airport]]'s MCO (for '''Mc'''C'''o'''y Air Force Base), or Chicago's [[O'Hare International Airport]], which is coded ORD for its original name: '''Or'''char'''d''' Field. In rare cases, the code comes from the airport's unofficial name, such as [[Kahului Airport]]'s OGG (for local aviation pioneer Jimmy H'''ogg''').

====Cities with multiple commercial airports====
In large metropolitan areas, airport codes are often named after the airport itself instead of the city it serves, while another code is reserved which refers to the city itself which can be used to search for flights to any of its airports. For instance:
* [[Beijing]] (BJS)&nbsp;– [[Beijing Capital International Airport|Capital]] (PEK) and [[Beijing Daxing International Airport|Daxing]] (PKX)
* [[Greater Belo Horizonte|Belo Horizonte]] (BHZ)&nbsp;– [[Belo Horizonte International Airport|Confins]] (CNF) and [[Carlos Drummond de Andrade Airport|Pampulha]] (PLU)
* [[Bucharest]] (BUH)&nbsp;– [[Henri Coandă International Airport|Otopeni]] (OTP) is named after the town of [[Otopeni]] where the airport is located, while the city also has a business airport inside the city limits named [[Aurel Vlaicu International Airport|Băneasa]] (BBU).
* [[Greater Buenos Aires|Buenos Aires]] (BUE)&nbsp;– [[Ministro Pistarini International Airport|Ezeiza]] (EZE) is named after the suburb in [[Ezeiza Partido]] where the airport is located, while [[Aeroparque Jorge Newbery]] (AEP) is in the city proper.
* [[Chicago metropolitan area|Chicago]] (CHI)&nbsp;– [[O'Hare International Airport|O'Hare]] (ORD), named after Orchard Field, the airport's former name, [[Chicago Midway International Airport|Midway]] (MDW), and [[Chicago Rockford International Airport|Rockford]] (RFD).
* [[Jakarta metropolitan area|Jakarta]] (JKT)&nbsp;– [[Soekarno–Hatta International Airport|Soekarno–Hatta]] (CGK) is named after Cengkareng, the [[Cengkareng|district in which the airport is located]], while the city also has another airport, [[Halim Perdanakusuma Airport|Halim Perdanakusuma]] (HLP). JKT used to refer to the city's former airport, [[Kemayoran Airport]], which closed down in the mid-1980s.
* [[Greater London|London]] (LON)&nbsp;– [[Heathrow Airport|Heathrow]] (LHR), [[Gatwick Airport|Gatwick]] (LGW), [[London City Airport|City]] (LCY),<ref name=sky/> [[Stansted Airport|Stansted]] (STN), [[Luton Airport|Luton]] (LTN), and [[Southend Airport|Southend]] (SEN)
* [[Milan metropolitan area|Milan]] (MIL)&nbsp;– [[Milan–Malpensa Airport|Malpensa]] (MXP), [[Linate Airport|Linate]] (LIN), and [[Orio al Serio Airport|Orio al Serio]] (BGY)
* [[Greater Montreal|Montreal]] (YMQ)&nbsp;– [[Montréal–Trudeau International Airport|Trudeau]] (YUL), [[Montréal–Mirabel International Airport|Mirabel]] (YMX), and [[MET – Montreal Metropolitan Airport|Metropolitan]] (YHU)
* [[Moscow metropolitan area|Moscow]] (MOW)&nbsp;– [[Sheremetyevo International Airport|Sheremetyevo]] (SVO), [[Domodedovo International Airport|Domodedovo]] (DME), [[Vnukovo International Airport|Vnukovo]] (VKO), [[Zhukovsky International Airport|Zhukovsky]] (ZIA), business airport [[Ostafyevo International Business Airport|Ostafyevo]] (OSF), and military air base [[Chkalovsky (air base)|Chkalovsky]] (CKL)
* [[New York metropolitan area|New York City]] (NYC)&nbsp;– [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|John F. Kennedy]] (JFK, formerly Idlewild (IDL)), [[La Guardia Airport|LaGuardia]] (LGA), and [[Newark Liberty International Airport|Newark]] (EWR)
* [[Keihanshin|Osaka]] (OSA)&nbsp;–  [[Osaka International Airport|Itami]] (ITM, formerly OSA), [[Kansai International Airport|Kansai]] (KIX), and [[Kobe Airport|Kobe]] (UKB)
* [[Paris metropolitan area|Paris]] (PAR)&nbsp;– [[Orly Airport|Orly]] (ORY), [[Charles de Gaulle Airport|Charles de Gaulle]] (CDG), [[Paris–Le Bourget Airport|Le Bourget]] (LBG), and [[Beauvais–Tillé Airport|Beauvais]] (BVA)
* [[Greater Rio de Janeiro|Rio de Janeiro]] (RIO)&nbsp;– [[Galeão Airport|Galeão]] (GIG) and [[Santos Dumont Airport|Santos Dumont]] (SDU)
* [[Rome metropolitan area|Rome]] (ROM)&nbsp;– [[Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport|Fiumicino]] (FCO) and [[Ciampino Airport|Ciampino]] (CIA)
* [[Greater São Paulo|São Paulo]] (SAO)&nbsp;– [[Congonhas Airport|Congonhas]] (CGH), [[São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport|Guarulhos]] (GRU), and [[Viracopos International Airport|Campinas]] (VCP)
* [[Sapporo]] (SPK)&nbsp;– [[New Chitose Airport|Chitose]] (CTS) and [[Okadama Airport|Okadama]] (OKD)
* [[Seoul Capital Area|Seoul]] (SEL)&nbsp;– [[Incheon Airport|Incheon]] (ICN) and [[Gimpo Airport|Gimpo]] (GMP, formerly SEL)
* [[Stockholm]] (STO)&nbsp;– [[Stockholm–Arlanda Airport|Arlanda]] (ARN), [[Stockholm–Bromma Airport|Bromma]] (BMA), [[Stockholm Skavsta Airport|Nyköping–Skavsta]] (NYO), and [[Stockholm Västerås Airport|Västerås]] (VST)
* [[Tenerife]] (TCI)&nbsp;– [[Tenerife North Airport|Tenerife North]] (TFN) and [[Tenerife South Airport|Tenerife South]] (TFS)
* [[Greater Tokyo Area|Tokyo]] (TYO)&nbsp;– [[Haneda Airport|Haneda]] (HND, formerly TYO) and [[Narita Airport|Narita]] (NRT)
* [[Greater Toronto Area|Toronto]] (YTO)&nbsp;– [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|Pearson]] (YYZ), [[Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport|Billy Bishop]] (YTZ), [[John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport|Hamilton]] (YHM), and [[Region of Waterloo International Airport|Waterloo]] (YKF)
* [[Washington metropolitan area|Washington, D.C.]] (WAS)&nbsp;– [[Dulles International Airport|Dulles]] (IAD), [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Reagan]] (DCA), and [[Baltimore–Washington International Airport|Baltimore–Washington]] (BWI)

Or using a code for the city in one of the major airports and then assigning another code to another airport:
* [[Almaty]] (ALA)&nbsp;– [[Almaty International Airport|Self-named]] (ALA) and [[Boraldai Airport|Boraldai]] (BXJ)
* [[Bangkok Metropolitan Region|Bangkok]] (BKK)&nbsp;– [[Suvarnabhumi Airport|Suvarnabhumi]] (BKK) and [[Don Mueang International Airport|Don Mueang]] (DMK, formerly BKK)
* [[Belfast]] (BFS)&nbsp;– [[Belfast International Airport|International]] (BFS) and [[George Best Belfast City Airport|George Best]] (BHD)
* [[Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region|Berlin]] (BER)&nbsp;– [[Berlin Brandenburg Airport|Self-named]] (BER). The city also previously had three airports, [[Berlin Tempelhof Airport|Tempelhof]] (THF), [[Berlin Schönefeld Airport|Schönefeld]] (SXF) and [[Berlin Tegel Airport|Tegel]] (TXL), with THF and TXL both now closed. The former Berlin Schönefeld Airport was absorbed into Berlin Brandenburg Airport, with the old Schönefeld terminal becoming ''Terminal 5''.
* [[Chengdu]] (CTU)&nbsp;– [[Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport|Shuangliu]] (CTU), [[Chengdu Tianfu International Airport|Tianfu]] (TFU), and [[Chengdu Huaizhou International Airport|Huaizhou]] [[:zh:成都淮州机场|(HZU; zh)]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Airline and Location Code Search|url=https://www.iata.org/en/publications/directories/code-search/|access-date=14 January 2022|website=IATA.org|publisher=International Air Transport Association}}</ref>
* [[Colombo]] (CMB)&nbsp;– [[Bandaranaike International Airport|Bandaranaike]] (CMB) and [[Ratmalana Airport|Ratmalana]] (RML)
* [[Dakar]] (DKR)&nbsp;– [[Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport|Senghor]] (DKR) and [[Blaise Diagne International Airport|Diass]] (DSS)
* [[Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex|Dallas–Fort Worth]] (DFW)&nbsp;– [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|Self-named]] (DFW), [[Dallas Love Field|Love Field]] (DAL), [[Fort Worth Meacham International Airport|Meacham]] (FTW), [[Fort Worth Alliance Airport|Alliance]] (AFW), and [[Addison Airport|Addison]] (ADS)
* [[Dubai]] (DXB)&nbsp;– [[Dubai International Airport|Self-named]] (DXB) and [[Al Maktoum International Airport|Al Maktoum]] (DWC)
* [[Goa]] (GOI) –  [[Dabolim Airport]] (GOI) and [[Manohar International Airport]] (GOX)
* [[Glasgow]] (GLA)&nbsp;– [[Glasgow Airport|International]] (GLA) and [[Glasgow Prestwick Airport|Prestwick]] (PIK)
* [[Greater Houston|Houston]] (HOU)&nbsp;– [[William P. Hobby Airport|Hobby]] (HOU), [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport|George Bush Intercontinental]] (IAH), and [[Ellington Airport (Texas)|Ellington]] (EFD)
* [[Istanbul]] (IST)&nbsp;– [[Istanbul Airport|Self-named]] (IST), [[Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport|Sabiha Gökçen]] (SAW), and [[Istanbul Atatürk Airport|Atatürk]] (ISL, formerly IST)
* [[Johannesburg]] (JNB)&nbsp;– [[O. R. Tambo International Airport|O. R. Tambo (formerly Jan Smuts)]] (JNB) and [[Lanseria International Airport|Lanseria]] (HLA)
* [[Greater Kuala Lumpur|Kuala Lumpur]] (KUL)&nbsp;– [[Kuala Lumpur International Airport|Sepang]] (KUL) and [[Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport|Subang]] (SZB, formerly KUL)
* [[Kyiv metropolitan area|Kyiv]] (IEV)&nbsp;– [[Kyiv International Airport (Zhuliany)|Zhuliany]] (IEV) and [[Boryspil International Airport|Boryspil]] (KBP)
* [[Greater Los Angeles|Los Angeles]] (LAX)&nbsp;– [[Los Angeles International Airport|Self-named]] (LAX), [[San Bernardino International Airport|San Bernardino]] (SBD), [[Ontario International Airport|Ontario]] (ONT), [[John Wayne Airport|Orange County]] (SNA), [[Van Nuys Airport|Van Nuys]] (VNY), [[Palmdale Regional Airport|Palmdale]] (PMD), [[Long Beach Airport|Long Beach]] (LGB), and [[Hollywood Burbank Airport|Burbank]] (BUR)
* [[Medan metropolitan area|Medan]] (MES)&nbsp;– [[Soewondo Air Force Base|Soewondo (formerly Polonia)]] (MES) and [[Kualanamu International Airport|Kualanamu]] (KNO)
* [[Medellín]] (MDE)&nbsp;– [[José María Córdova International Airport|José María Córdova]] (MDE) and [[Olaya Herrera Airport|Olaya Herrera]] (EOH)
* [[Mexico City]] (MEX)&nbsp;– [[Mexico City International Airport|Self-named]] (MEX) and [[Felipe Ángeles International Airport|Felipe Ángeles]] (NLU)
* [[Melbourne]] (MEL)&nbsp;– [[Melbourne Airport|Tullamarine]] (MEL), [[Essendon Airport|Essendon]] (MEB), and [[Avalon Airport|Avalon]] (AVV)
* [[Miami metropolitan area|Miami]] (MIA)&nbsp;– [[Miami International Airport|Self-named]] (MIA), [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport|Fort Lauderdale]] (FLL), and [[Palm Beach International Airport|West Palm Beach]] (PBI)
* [[Chūkyō metropolitan area|Nagoya]] (NGO)&nbsp;– [[Chubu Centrair International Airport|Centrair]] (NGO) and [[Nagoya Airfield|Komaki]] (NKM, formerly NGO)
* [[San Diego]]&nbsp;– [[San Diego International Airport|Self-named]] (SAN) and [[Tijuana International Airport|Tijuana]] (TIJ). TIJ is physically located in [[Tijuana]], Mexico, but offers access directly to and from the US via the [[Cross Border Xpress]].
* [[San Francisco Bay Area|San Francisco]] (SFO)&nbsp;– [[San Francisco International Airport|Self-named]] (SFO), [[Oakland International Airport|Oakland]] (OAK), [[San Jose International Airport|San Jose–Mineta]] (SJC), and [[Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport|Sonoma–Schulz]] (STS)
* [[Seattle metropolitan area|Seattle]] (SEA)&nbsp;– [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport|Tacoma (Sea–Tac)]] (SEA), [[Boeing Field]] (BFI), and [[Paine Field]] (PAE)
* [[Shanghai]] (SHA)&nbsp;– [[Shanghai Pudong International Airport|Pudong]] (PVG) and [[Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport|Hongqiao]] (SHA)
* [[Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area|Taipei]] (TPE)&nbsp;– [[Taoyuan International Airport|Taoyuan (formerly Chiang Kai-shek)]] (TPE) and [[Taipei Songshan Airport|Songshan]] (TSA, formerly TPE)
* [[Tehran]] (THR)&nbsp;– [[Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport|Imam Khomeini]] (IKA) and [[Mehrabad International Airport|Mehrabad]] (THR)
* [[Gush Dan|Tel Aviv]] (TLV)&nbsp;– [[Ben Gurion International Airport|Ben Gurion]] (TLV) and (formerly) [[Sde Dov]] (SDV)
* [[Special Region of Yogyakarta|Yogyakarta]] (JOG)&nbsp;— [[Adisutjipto Airport|Adisutjipto]] (JOG) and [[Yogyakarta International Airport|International]] (YIA)

When different cities with the same name each have an airport, they need to be assigned different codes. Examples include:
* [[Juan Santamaría International Airport]] (SJO) is in [[Alajuela Province|Alajuela]], serving the capital [[San José, Costa Rica|San José de Costa Rica]]. While [[Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport]] (SJC) is in [[San Jose, California]], the United States.
* [[Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport]] (BHM) is in [[Birmingham, Alabama]], the United States and [[Birmingham Airport]] (BHX) is in [[Birmingham]], England, United Kingdom.
* [[Portland International Jetport]] (PWM) is in [[Portland, Maine]], while [[Portland International Airport]] (PDX) is in [[Portland, Oregon]].
* [[Manchester Airport]] (MAN) is in [[Manchester]], England, United Kingdom, while [[Manchester–Boston Regional Airport|Manchester-Boston Regional Airport]] (MHT) is in [[Manchester, New Hampshire|Manchester]], [[New Hampshire]], United States.
* [[Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport]] (SCL) is in [[Santiago]], Chile; while [[Antonio Maceo Airport]] (SCU) is in [[Santiago de Cuba|Santiago]], Cuba; [[Santiago–Rosalía de Castro Airport]] (SCQ) is in [[Santiago de Compostela]], Spain; and [[Cibao International Airport]] (STI) serves [[Santiago de los Caballeros]], Dominican Republic.

Sometimes, a new airport is built, replacing the old one, leaving the city's new "major" airport (or the only remaining airport) code to no longer correspond with the city's name. The original airport in Nashville, Tennessee, was built in 1936 as part of the Works Progress Administration and called Berry Field with the designation, BNA. A new facility known as Nashville International Airport was built in 1987 but still uses BNA. This is in conjunction to rules aimed to avoid confusion that seem to apply in the United States, which state that "the first and second letters or second and third letters of an identifier may not be duplicated with less than 200 [[nautical mile]]s separation."<ref name=sky/> Thus, Washington, D.C. area's three airports all have radically different codes: IAD for [[Washington Dulles International Airport|Washington–Dulles]], DCA for [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Washington–Reagan]] (District of Columbia Airport), and BWI for [[Baltimore Airport|Baltimore]] (Baltimore–Washington International, formerly BAL).<ref name=sky/> Since HOU is used for [[William P. Hobby Airport]], the new [[Houston–Intercontinental]] became IAH.<ref name=sky/> The code BKK was originally assigned to [[Don Mueang International Airport|Bangkok–Don Mueang]] and was later transferred to [[Suvarnabhumi Airport]], while the former adopted DMK. Meanwhile, [[Tan Son Nhat International Airport|Tan Son Nhat Airport]] keeps its [[Saigon]]-inspired SGN code even though the city has long been renamed to [[Ho Chi Minh City]], and the city's new primary airport [[Long Thanh International Airport|Long Thanh International]] adopts a brand new code LTH after its own name rather than any derivatives from the name of the city that it serves or the legacy SGN designation. The code ISK was originally assigned to [[Gandhinagar Airport]] (Nashik's old airport) and later on transferred to [[Nashik Airport|Ozar Airport]] (Nashik's current airport). [[Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport|Shanghai–Hongqiao]] retained the code SHA, while the newer [[Shanghai Pudong International Airport|Shanghai–Pudong]] adopted PVG. The opposite was true for [[Berlin]]: the airport [[Berlin Tegel Airport|Berlin–Tegel]] used the code TXL, while its smaller counterpart [[Berlin Schönefeld Airport|Berlin–Schönefeld]] used SXF; the [[Berlin Brandenburg Airport]], which reuses much of Schönefeld's infrastructure, has the airport code BER, which is also part of its branding. The airports of [[Hamburg Airport|Hamburg]] (HAM) and [[Hannover Airport|Hannover]] (HAJ) are less than {{convert|100|nmi|km|sp=us}} apart and therefore share the same first and middle letters, indicating that this rule might be followed only in Germany.

====Cities or airports changing names====
Many cities retain historical names in their airport codes, even after having undergone an official name/spelling/transliteration change:
* In [[Angola]]: [[Sumbe Airport|NDD]] for [[Sumbe]] (formerly Novo Redondo), [[Albano Machado Airport|NOV]] for [[Huambo]] (formerly Nova Lisboa), [[Chitato Airport|PGI]] for [[Chitato]] (formerly Portugália), [[Saurimo Airport|VHC]] for [[Saurimo]] (formerly Henrique de Carvalho), [[Lubango Airport|SDD]] for [[Lubango]] (formerly Sá da Bandeira), [[Menongue Airport|SPP]] for [[Menongue]] (formerly Serpa Pinto), and [[Joaquim Kapango Airport|SVP]] for [[Cuíto]] (formerly Silva Porto)
* In [[Armenia]]: [[Shirak Airport|LWN]] for [[Gyumri]] (formerly Leninakan)
* In [[Azerbaijan]]: [[Ganja International Airport|KVD]] for [[Ganja, Azerbaijan|Ganja]] (formerly Kirovabad)
* In [[Bangladesh]]: [[Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport|DAC]] for [[Dhaka]] (formerly Dacca)
* In [[Cambodia]]: [[Sihanouk International Airport|KOS]] for [[Sihanoukville (city)|Sihanoukville]] (formerly Kampong Som)
* In [[Canada]]: [[Iqaluit Airport|YFB]] for [[Iqaluit]] (formerly Frobisher Bay), YHU for [[MET – Montreal Metropolitan Airport]] (formerly Montréal/Saint-Hubert Airport)
* In [[China]]: [[Beijing Capital International Airport|PEK]] for Beijing (formerly Peking), [[Tianjin Binhai International Airport|TSN]] for [[Tianjin]] (formerly Tientsin), [[Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport|CKG]] for [[Chongqing]] (formerly Chungking), [[Nanjing Lukou International Airport|NKG]] for [[Nanjing]] (formerly Nanking), [[Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport|TNA]] for [[Jinan]] (formerly Tsinan), [[Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport|TAO]] for [[Qingdao]] (formerly Tsingtao), [[Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport|CTU]] for [[Chengdu]] (formerly Chengtu), [[Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport|KWE]] for [[Guiyang]] (formerly Kweiyang), [[Guilin Liangjiang Airport|KWL]] for [[Guilin]] (formerly Kweilin), and [[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport|CAN]] for [[Guangzhou]] (formerly Canton). [[Xi'an]]'s older [[Xi'an Xiguan Airport|Xiguan Airport]] used the code SIA (for Sian), but it has been replaced by the [[Xi'an Xianyang International Airport]] whose code is XIY. The older IATA codes follow [[Chinese postal romanization]], introduced in 1906, officially abolished in 1964 and in use well into the 1980s, while gradually superseded by [[Pinyin]].
** [[Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport|DYG]] for [[Zhangjiajie]] (formerly Dayong; a genuine change in city name, rather than just a change of romanization)
* In [[Czech Republic|Czechia]]: [[Holešov Airport|GTW]] for Holešov Airport serving [[Zlín]] (formerly Gottwaldov)
* In the [[Democratic Republic of Congo]]: [[Ilebo Airport|PFR]] for [[Ilebo]] (formerly Port-Francqui)
* In [[Croatia]]: [[Pula Airport|PUY]] for [[Pula, Croatia]]. The Y in PUY stands for [[Yugoslavia]], the former country that Croatia was part of until 1991.
* In [[Fiji]]: [[Malolo Lailai Airport|PTF]] for [[Malolo Lailai]] (formerly Plantation Island, Fiji)
* In [[Greenland]]:  most airports, including [[Kangerlussuaq Airport|SFJ]] for [[Kangerlussuaq]] (formerly Søndre Strømfjord), [[Nuuk Airport|GOH]] for [[Nuuk]] (formerly Godthåb) and [[Ilulissat Airport|JAV]] for [[Ilulissat]] (Jacobshavn)
* In [[India]]: [[Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport|BOM]] for [[Mumbai]] (formerly Bombay), [[Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport|CCU]] for [[Kolkata]] (formerly Calcutta), [[Chennai International Airport|MAA]] for [[Chennai]] (formerly Madras), and [[Kannur International Airport|CNN]] for [[Kannur]] (formerly Cannanore)
* In [[Indonesia]]: [[Radin Inten II Airport|TKG]] for [[Bandar Lampung]] (formerly Tanjung Karang), [[Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport|UPG]] for [[Makassar]] (formerly Ujung Pandang). In addition, when the [[Enhanced Indonesian Spelling System]] was introduced in 1972, a few older IATA codes retained the previous spelling: [[Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport|BTJ]] for [[Banda Aceh]] (formerly Banda Atjeh), [[Sentani International Airport|DJJ]] for [[Jayapura]] (formerly Djajapura), and [[Adisucipto International Airport|JOG]] for [[Yogyakarta]] (formerly Jogjakarta).
* In [[Kazakhstan]]: [[Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport|NQZ]] for [[Astana]] (formerly Nur-Sultan and Tselinograd (TSE)), [[Aktau Airport|SCO]] for [[Aktau]] (formerly Shevchenko), [[Atyrau Airport|GUW]] for [[Atyrau]] (formerly Guryev), [[Kokshetau Airport|KOV]] for [[Kokshetau]] (formerly Kokchetav), [[Taraz Airport|DMB]] for [[Taraz]] (formerly Dzhambyl), [[Semey Airport|PLX]] for [[Semey]] (formerly Semipalatinsk), [[Şymkent International Airport|CIT]] for [[Şymkent]] (formerly Chimkent), and [[Zhezkazgan Airport|DZN]] for [[Jezkazgan]] (formerly Dzhezkazgan)
* In [[Kyrgyzstan]]: [[Manas International Airport|FRU]] for [[Bishkek]] (formerly Frunze)
* In [[Madagascar]]: [[Arrachart Airport|DIE]] for [[Antsiranana]] (formerly Diego-Suarez), [[Port Bergé Airport|WPB]] for [[Boriziny]] (formerly Port Bergé)
* In [[Moldova]]: [[Chișinău Eugen Doga International Airport|RMO]] for [[Chișinău]] (formerly Kishinev (KIV))
* In [[Montenegro]]: [[Podgorica Airport|TGD]] for [[Podgorica]] (formerly Titograd)
* In [[Mozambique]]: [[Xai-Xai Airport|VJB]] for [[Xai-Xai]] (formerly João Belo), [[Chimoio Airport|VPY]] for [[Chimoio]] (formerly Vila Pery), [[Cuamba Airport|FXO]] for [[Cuamba]] (formerly Nova Freixo), and [[Chokwe Airport|TGS]] for [[Chokwe, Mozambique|Chokwe]] (formerly Vila Trigo de Morais)
* In [[Myanmar]]: [[Yangon International Airport|RGN]] for [[Yangon]] (formerly Rangoon), [[Thandwe Airport|SNW]] for [[Thandwe]] (formerly Sandoway), and [[Dawei Airport|TVY]] for [[Dawei]] (formerly Tavoy)
* In [[Pakistan]]: [[Faisalabad International Airport|LYP]] for [[Faisalabad]] (formerly Lyallpur)
* In [[Russia]]: [[Pulkovo Airport|LED]] for [[St. Petersburg]] (formerly Leningrad), [[Strigino International Airport|GOJ]] for [[Nizhny Novgorod]] (formerly Gorky), [[Koltsovo Airport|SVX]] for [[Yekaterinburg]] (formerly Sverdlovsk), [[Kurumoch International Airport|KUF]] for [[Samara, Russia|Samara]] (formerly Kuybyshev), [[Beslan Airport|OGZ]] for [[Vladikavkaz]] (formerly Ordzhonikidze), and [[Migalovo Air Base|KLD]] for [[Tver]] (formerly Kalinin) and others
* In [[South Africa]]: [[Nelspruit Airport|NLP]] for [[Mbombela]] (formerly Nelspruit), [[Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport|PLZ]] for [[Gqeberha]] (formerly Port Elizabeth), and [[Polokwane International Airport|PTG]] for [[Polokwane]] (formerly Pietersburg)
* In [[South Korea]]: [[Gangneung Air Base|KAG]] for [[Gangneung]] (formerly Kangnung), [[Gimhae International Airport|PUS]] for [[Busan]] (formerly Pusan), and [[Daegu International Airport|TAE]] for [[Daegu]] (formerly Taegu)
* In [[Tajikistan]]: [[Khujand Airport|LBD]] for [[Khujand]] (formerly Leninabad)
* In [[Turkmenistan]]: [[Turkmenbashi International Airport|KRW]] for [[Türkmenbaşy, Turkmenistan|Türkmenbaşy]] (formerly Krasnovodsk), [[Turkmenabat Airport|CRZ]] for [[Türkmenabat]] (formerly Chardzhev), and [[Daşoguz Airport|TAZ]] for [[Daşoguz]] (formerly Tashauz)
* In [[Ukraine]]: [[Kyiv International Airport (Zhuliany)|IEV]] for [[Kyiv]] (formerly Kiev), [[Luhansk International Airport|VSG]] for [[Luhansk]] (formerly Voroshilovgrad), [[Kropyvnytskyi Airport|KGO]] for [[Kropyvnytskyi]] (formerly Kirovograd), [[Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport|LWO]] for [[Lviv, Ukraine|Lviv]] (formerly Lwów while part of Poland until 1939, and still called Lvov in Russian), and [[Ivano-Frankivsk International Airport|IFO]] for [[Ivano-Frankivsk]] (in Soviet times spelt in Russian as Ivano-Frankovsk);
* In [[Vietnam]]: [[Tan Son Nhat International Airport|SGN]] for [[Ho Chi Minh City]] (formerly Saigon)
* In [[Western Sahara]]: [[Dakhla Airport|VIL]] for [[Dakhla, Western Sahara|Dakhla]] (formerly Villa Cisneros)

Some airport codes are based on previous names associated with a present airport, often with a military heritage. These include:
* Chicago's [[O'Hare International Airport|O'Hare]], which is assigned ORD based on its old name of Orchard Field. It was expanded and renamed O'Hare in the mid-1950s.
* [[Rickenbacker International Airport]] uses LCK, for its former name of Lockbourne Air Force Base.
*[[Travis Air Force Base]] uses SUU, for its former name of Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Base.
* [[North Texas Regional Airport]] uses PNX, for its former name of [[Perrin Air Force Station]].
* [[Fresno Yosemite International Airport]] uses the code FAT, derived from a previous name of the airport, Fresno Air Terminal.
* [[Orlando International Airport]] was founded as Orlando Army Air Field #2 but uses MCO for having been renamed [[McCoy Air Force Base]] in 1959 in honor of a wing commander who crashed at the field in 1958.  It was converted in the early 1960s to joint civilian/military use and renamed Orlando Jetport at McCoy, then renamed Orlando International Airport in the early 1980s.
* [[Kansas City International Airport]] uses MCI, for its original name of Mid-Continent International Airport. The airport is referred to locally as "KCI", and attempts have been made to change its IATA code to match; however, "KCI" is already used for an airport in [[Timor-Leste]].
* [[Spokane International Airport]] was so named in 1960 but goes by GEG because it was built on the former Geiger Field, renamed in 1941 for Major [[Harold Geiger]] when the US Army acquired it.
* [[Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport]] was originally named Moisant Field after daredevil aviator [[John Moisant]], who died in 1910 in an airplane crash on agricultural land where the airport is now located. Its IATA code MSY was derived from Moisant Stock Yards, as Lakefront Airport retained the code NEW.
* [[Lehigh Valley International Airport]] uses ABE, for its former name of [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]]–[[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem]]–[[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]] International Airport.
* [[William R. Fairchild International Airport]] uses CLM, for its former name of Clallam County Municipal Landing Field.
* [[Chicago Executive Airport]] uses PWK, for its former name, Palwaukee Municipal Airport (which was derived from its location on Palatine Road and [[Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago|Milwaukee Avenue]]).
* [[Dallas Executive Airport]] used RBD, for its former name, Redbird Airport.
* [[TSTC Waco Airport]] uses CNW, as it was formerly [[James Connally Air Force Base|Connally Air Force Base]].
* [[Glacier Park International Airport]] uses FCA, for its former name Flathead County Airport.

Some airports are named for an administrative division or nearby city, rather than the one they are located in:
* [[Juan Santamaría International Airport]] is located in [[Alajuela Province|Alajuela province]], but since it is so close to the capital city of [[San José, Costa Rica]], the airport serves the whole [[Costa Rican Central Valley|Central Valley]] using SJO.
* [[Grand Strand Airport]] uses CRE for the former municipality of [[Crescent Beach, South Carolina]].
* [[Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]] is located in an unincorporated area of [[Boone County, Kentucky]] and uses CVG after the nearby city of [[Covington, Kentucky|Covington]] (located in neighboring [[Kenton County, Kentucky|Kenton County]]).
* [[San Ignacio Town Airstrip]], located in [[San Ignacio, Belize]], uses CYD because it is located in the [[Cayo District]].
* [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]] in [[Crystal City, Virginia]] uses DCA for the [[Washington, D.C.|District of Columbia]] (DC) and Arlington.
* [[Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Airport]] in [[Buraidah]], Saudi Arabia uses ELQ for the [[Al-Qassim Province]] (El Qassim)
* [[Damazin Airport]] in Sudan uses RSS, for the nearby [[Roseires Dam]].

Other airport codes are of obscure origin, and each has its own peculiarities:
* Nashville uses [[Nashville Airport|BNA]] for its former name as Berry Field, henceforth '''B'''erry '''N'''ashville '''A'''irport.
* [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]] Muhammad Ali International Airport is [[Louisville International Airport|SDF]] for '''S'''tandifor'''d''' '''F'''ield, its original name ([[Elisha David Standiford]] who, as a businessman and legislator, played an important role in Louisville transportation history and owned part of the land on which the airport was built.)<ref>{{Cite web|title=SDF History|url=https://www.flylouisville.com/corporate/sdf-history/|access-date=2020-11-29|website=Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Knoxville]] uses [[McGhee Tyson Airport|TYS]] for [[Charles McGhee Tyson|Charles McGhee '''Tys'''on]], whose family donated the land for the first airport in Knoxville
* [[Kahului]], the main gateway into [[Maui]], uses [[Kahului Airport|OGG]] in homage to Hawaiian aviation pioneer Bertram J. H'''ogg'''
* [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]], Australia, uses [[Gold Coast Airport|OOL]] due to its former name as C'''ool'''angatta Airport, [[Coolangatta|named after the suburb]] in which it is located
* [[Sunshine Coast, Queensland|Sunshine Coast]], Australia, uses [[Sunshine Coast Airport|MCY]] due to its former names '''M'''aroo'''c'''h'''y'''dore Airport and '''M'''aroo'''c'''h'''y'''dore-Sunshine Coast Airport. It is actually located in [[Marcoola, Queensland|Marcoola]] rather than Maroochydore.
* [[Buli Airport]] uses PGQ, for its location in the [[Pekaulang]] administrative division.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}
* [[New River Valley Airport]] uses PSK for its location in [[Pulaski County, Virginia|'''P'''ula'''sk'''i County, Virginia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.countyoffice.org/new-river-valley-airport-psk-dublin-va-f09/|title=New River Valley Airport - PSK - Dublin, VA (Address, Phone, and Fax)|website=www.countyoffice.org}}</ref>
* [[Río Amazonas Airport]] uses PTZ for its location in [[Pastaza Province|'''P'''as'''t'''a'''z'''a Province]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dlca.logcluster.org/print-preview/4434|title=Export Preview &#124; Digital Logistics Capacity Assessments|website=dlca.logcluster.org}}</ref>
* [[Brackett Field]] uses POC, as it was named after a flying enthusiast and faculty member of nearby [[Pomona College|'''Po'''mona '''C'''ollege]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dpw.lacounty.gov/avi/airports/BrackettField.aspx|title=Brackett Field Airport|website=[[Los Angeles County Department of Public Works]]|access-date=March 16, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Yan'an Nanniwan Airport]] inherited the ENY code from the city of [[Yan'an]]'s old airport, [[Yan'an Ershilipu Airport|'''Y'''a'''n'''<nowiki/>'an '''E'''rshilipu Airport]].
* [[Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport]] uses the code ECP, which when proposed was thought it could stand for "'''E'''veryone '''C'''an '''P'''arty"<ref name="Story of ECP">{{cite web|last1=Owen|first1=Bill|title=Every Airport Code Tells a Story|url=http://www.southwestaircommunity.com/t5/-/-/ba-p/42710|access-date=10 April 2015|website=blogsouthwest.com|date=April 8, 2015|publisher=Southwest Airlines}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In Asia, codes that do not correspond with their city's names include [[Niigata (city)|Niigata]]'s [[Niigata Airport|KIJ]], [[Nanchang]]'s [[Nanchang Airport|KHN]] and [[Pyongyang]]'s [[Pyongyang International Airport|FNJ]].

====Multiple codes for a single airport====
[[EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg]], which serves three countries, has three airport codes: BSL, MLH, EAP.

* The French part of the airport is assigned MLH, for [[Mulhouse|'''M'''u'''lh'''ouse]], France
* The Swiss part of the airport is assigned BSL, for [[Basel|'''B'''a'''s'''e'''l''']], Switzerland
* The airport also has a Metropolitan Area Code, EAP, for '''E'''uro'''A'''ir'''p'''ort.<ref>{{cite web | title=Airline and Airport Code Search | url=https://www.iata.org/en/publications/directories/code-search/?airport.search=Basel }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Airline and Airport Code Search | url=https://www.iata.org/en/publications/directories/code-search/?airport.search=EAP }}</ref>

====Airport codes using the English name of the city====
Some cities have a local name in their respective language which is different from the name in English, yet the airport code represents ''only'' the English name. Examples include:
* [[Suvarnabhumi Airport|BKK]] – [[Bangkok]], Thailand ({{langx|th|กรุงเทพ|translit=Krung Thep|links=no}})
* [[Cairo International Airport|CAI]] – [[Cairo]], Egypt ({{langx|ar|القاهرة|translit=al-Qāhirah|links=no}})
* [[Cologne Bonn Airport|CGN]] – [[Cologne]], Germany ({{langx|de|Köln|links=no}})
* [[Copenhagen Airport|CPH]] – [[Copenhagen]], Denmark ({{langx|da|København|links=no}})
* [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|DEL]] – [[Delhi]], India ({{langx|hi|दिल्ली|translit=Dilli|links=no}})
* [[Dublin Airport|DUB]] – [[Dublin]], Ireland ({{langx|ga|Baile Átha Cliath|links=no}})
* [[Florence Airport|FLR]] – [[Florence]], Italy ({{langx|it|Firenze|links=no}})
* [[Geneva Airport|GVA]] – [[Geneva]], Switzerland ({{langx|fr|Genève|links=no}})
* [[José Martí International Airport|HAV]] – [[Havana]], Cuba ({{langx|es|La Habana|links=no}})
* [[Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport|LKO]] – [[Lucknow]], India ({{langx|hi|लखनऊ|translit=Lakhnau|links=no}})
* [[Václav Havel Airport Prague|PRG]] – [[Prague]], Czechia ({{langx|cs|Praha|links=no}})
* [[Venice Marco Polo Airport|VCE]] – [[Venice]], Italy ({{langx|it|Venezia|links=no}})
* [[Vienna International Airport|VIE]] – [[Vienna]], Austria ({{langx|de|Wien|links=no}})

====Scarcity of codes====
Due to scarcity of codes (the three-character code is used by a maximum of 17,576 airports worldwide only), some airports are given codes with letters not found in their names:
*[[Alderney Airport|ACI]] ("'''A'''lderney, '''C'''hannel '''I'''slands") for [[Alderney]], [[Bailiwick of Guernsey|Guernsey]]
*[[Bergen Airport, Flesland|BGO]] for [[Bergen, Norway]]
*[[Afonso Pena International Airport|CWB]] for [[Curitiba, Brazil]]
*[[Da Nang International Airport|DAD]] for [[Da Nang, Vietnam]]
*[[Pyongyang Sunan International Airport|FNJ]] for [[Pyongyang, North Korea]]


'''Use of 'X' as a filler'''<br />

The use of 'X' as a filler letter is a practice to create three-letter identifiers when more straightforward options were unavailable:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Airport Codes {{!}} Access Our Directory of Airport Code Data {{!}} OAG |url=https://www.oag.com/airport-code-directory |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=www.oag.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=Mark |date=2022-12-15 |title=Why Is There an X in Some Airport Names? (& Some Funny Codes) |url=https://knaviation.net/x-in-airport-codes/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=KN Aviation |language=en-US}}</ref>

*[[Williston Basin International Airport|XWA]] for [[Williston, North Dakota|'''W'''illiston, North Dakot'''a''']], USA 
* [[Malmö Airport|MMX]] for [[Malmö|'''M'''al'''m'''ö]], Sweden
* [[Chiang Mai International Airport|CNX]] for [[Chiang Mai|'''C'''hia'''n'''g Mai]], Thailand (e.g. [[Houghton County Memorial Airport|CMX]] was already allocated to [[Houghton County Memorial Airport|Houghton '''C'''ounty '''M'''emorial Airport]] in the United States)
* [[Mora–Siljan Airport|MXX]] for [[Mora–Siljan Airport|'''M'''ora–Siljan Airport]], Sweden
* [[Dubai International Airport|DXB]] for [[Dubai International Airport|'''D'''u'''b'''ai]], United Arab Emirates ([[Dublin Airport|DUB]] was already allocated to [[Dublin Airport]], Ireland)<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=5 Jun 2024 |title=Dubai International Airport (DXB) - Complete Guide |url=https://www.damacproperties.com/en/blog/dubai-international-airport-complete-guide: |website=Damac }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* [[Milan Malpensa Airport|MXP]] for [[Milan Malpensa Airport|Milan '''M'''al'''p'''ensa]], Italy
* [[Federico García Lorca Granada Airport|GRX]] for [[Federico García Lorca Granada Airport|'''Gr'''anada International Airport]], Spain (e.g. GRA was already allocated to [[Gamarra Airport|'''G'''amar'''ra''' Airport]] in Colombia)<ref name=":0" />
* [[Gorom Gorom Airport|XGG]] for [[Gorom Gorom Airport|'''G'''orom '''G'''orom Airport]], Burkina Faso
* [[Birmingham Airport|BHX]] for [[Birmingham Airport|'''B'''irming'''h'''am Airport]], United Kingdom (e.g. [[Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport|BHM]] was already allocated to [[Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport|'''B'''irming'''h'''a'''m'''–Shuttlesworth Airport]] in the United States)<ref name=":0" />
*[[Beijing Daxing International Airport|PKX]] for [[Beijing Daxing International Airport]], China. The letters PK stand for the old Romanization of the city name as "Peking," which survives in the code for the main city airport  [[Beijing Capital International Airport]] (PEK).
*[[FAP Captain José Abelardo Quiñones González International Airport|CIX]] for [[Chiclayo]], [[Peru]].

Some airports in the United States retained their NWS ([[National Weather Service]]) codes and simply appended an X at the end. Examples include:
* [[Los Angeles International Airport|LAX]] for [[Los Angeles|'''L'''os '''A'''ngeles]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=LAX Official Site {{!}} FAQs |url=https://www.flylax.com/lax-frequently-asked-questions-faq |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=www.flylax.com}}</ref>
* [[Portland International Airport|PDX]] for [[Portland, Oregon|'''P'''ortlan'''d''']]
* [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|PHX]] for [[Phoenix, Arizona|'''Ph'''oenix]]<ref name="sky" /> (Note: the X does not originate from the x at the end of Phoenix but is the result of appending an X at the end of the NWS code.)

====Airports without codes====
A lot of minor airfields without scheduled passenger traffic have [[ICAO airport code|ICAO codes]] but not IATA codes, since the four letter codes allow a larger number of codes.  IATA codes are mainly used for passenger services such as tickets and [[checked luggage]], while ICAO codes are used by pilots. In the US, such airfields use [[Location identifier|FAA codes]] instead of ICAO.

There are airports with scheduled service for which there are ICAO codes but not IATA codes, such as Nkhotakota Airport/Tangole Airport in [[List of airports in Malawi|Malawi]] or [[Chōfu Airport]] in Tokyo, Japan. There are also several minor airports in [[Russia]] (e.g., [[Omsukchan Airport]]) which lack IATA codes and instead use [[Location identifier|internal Russian codes]] for booking. Flights to these airports cannot be booked through the international air booking systems or have international luggage transferred there, and thus, they are booked instead through the airline or a domestic booking system. Several [[List of airports in Greenland|heliports in Greenland]] have 3-letter codes used internally which might be IATA codes for airports in distant countries.{{cn|date=July 2025}}

There are several airports with scheduled service that have not been assigned ICAO codes that do have IATA codes, especially in the U.S. For example, several airports in Alaska have scheduled commercial service, such as [[Stebbins Airport|Stebbins]] and [[Nanwalek Airport|Nanwalek]], which use FAA codes instead of ICAO codes.

Thus, neither system completely includes all airports with scheduled service.

====Use in colloquial speech====
Some airports are identified in colloquial speech by their IATA code. Examples include JFK for New York-Kennedy airport, [[Los Angeles International Airport|LAX]], [[Portland International Airport|PDX]] and [[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport|CCU]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=How Airports Get Their Codes |date=2017-08-31 |magazine=Condé Nast Traveler |url=https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-airports-get-their-codes |last=Hope |first=Allison |access-date=2023-07-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215225911/https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-airports-get-their-codes |archive-date=2023-02-15}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Lists of airports by IATA and ICAO code]]
* [[Airline codes]]
* [[Airspace class]]
* [[Geocoding]]
* [[ICAO airport code]]
* [[International Air Transport Association code]]
* [[List of IATA-indexed railway stations]]
* [[UN/LOCODE]]
* [https://www.iata.org/en/publications/directories/code-search/? IATA airport code search]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Wikivoyage inline|Metropolitan area airport codes}}   – for areas served by several airports
* {{wikivoyage inline|Airport codes}}   – relating to particular airports
* [http://www.iata.org/index.htm IATA official web site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410075713/http://www.iata.org/index.htm |date=2009-04-10 }}
* [http://www.iata.org/publications/Pages/code-search.aspx IATA Airline and Airport Code Search]
* [http://www.unece.org/cefact/locode/welcome.html United Nations Code for Trade and Transport Locations (UN/LOCODE)] – includes IATA codes
* [https://openflights.org OpenFlights], a freely licensed ([[Open Database License|ODbL]]) aviation data set

{{Clear}}
{{Geocoding-systems}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:International Air Transport Association Airport Code}}
[[Category:Geocodes]]
[[Category:International Air Transport Association|Airport code]]
[[Category:Location codes]]

[[he:יאט"א#קוד יאט"א]]