1. Airport Codes Explained
A lesson about three and four letter airport codes
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3. Lesson Plan Let’s get started Objectives Airport Codes Quiz
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Objectives
Airport Codes
Quiz
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4. 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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5. 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

6. But before we get started …
Based on the airport code shown , click on the correct city name:
Chicago O’Hare
Wrong, try again!
Los Angeles Intl. Airport
Newark Liberty International

7. But before we get started …
Based on the airport code shown , click on the correct city name:
Chicago O’Hare
You’ve got it! Great job!
Los Angeles Intl. Airport
Newark Liberty International
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8. 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

9. But before we get started …
Based on the airport code shown , click on the correct city name:
Calgary International Airport
Wrong, try again!
Vancouver International Airport
Toronto Pearson Airport

10. But before we get started …
Based on the airport code shown , click on the correct city name:
Calgary International Airport
You’ve got it! Great job!
Vancouver International Airport
Toronto Pearson Airport
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11. Objectives 1 2
Identify airport letter codes for major airports
Understand the different systems of airport codes
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12. Airport Letter Code Systems
As you have seen in the intro quiz, many airports have easy to derive letter codes:
Others do not:
LAX for Los Angeles
YYZ for Toronto
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13. Airport Letter Code Systems
As you have seen in the intro quiz, many airports have easy to derive letter codes:
Others do not:
OAK for Oakland
ORD for Chicago O’Hare
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14. Airport Letter Code Systems1 2
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
The problem is that these two standards may or may not align. More on the next slide!
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15. Airport Letter Code Systems
ICAO four letter codes
IATA three letter codes
Some overlap exists between the two different systems:
LAX – IATA Code
KLAX – ICAO Code
For most airports, no similarity exists:
VIE– IATA Code
LOWW– ICAO Code
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16. Airport Letter Code Systems
ICAO four letter codes
IATA three letter codes
Most airports have both ICAO and IATA letter codes
Some, however, have only ICAO designators or only IATA designators
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17. Airport Letter Code Systems
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
Picture: ICAO
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18. 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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19. Airport Letter Code Systems
LAX
Los 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.
ORD
Chicago 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.
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The stories can help you to memorize the airport codes!

20. Airport Letter Code Systems
IAD
Dulles 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.
DFW
Dallas/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.
SFO
San 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’.
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The stories can help you to memorize the airport codes!

21. Airport Letter Code Systems
YYC
Calgary 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.
YYZ
Pearson 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.
YVR
Vancouver 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.
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Remember: All Canadian three letter airport codes start with a ‘Y’

22. Airport Letter Code Systems
ABC
Aeropuerto de Albacete
Albacete, Spain
Opened in 1929, Albacete Airport is located on Los Llanos Air Base and serves the city of Albacete.
SUX
Sioux 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.”
DOH
Doha 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.
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23. 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!
Airportcod.es
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24. ICAO and IATA airport codes are always identical
It’s Quiz Time
Answer the following question:
True
ICAO and IATA airport codes are always identical
False
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25. ICAO and IATA airport codes are always identical
It’s Quiz Time
Answer the following question:
True
Wrong, try again!
ICAO and IATA airport codes are always identical
False

26. It’s Quiz Time Next True False Answer the following question:
You’ve got it, great job!
ICAO and IATA airport codes are only sometimes identical
ICAO and IATA airport codes are always identical
False
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27. JFK is the airport designation for Newark International Airport
It’s Quiz Time
Answer the following question:
True
JFK is the airport designation for Newark International Airport
False

28. JFK is the airport designation for Newark International Airport
It’s Quiz Time
Answer the following question:
True
Wrong, try again!
JFK is the airport designation for Newark International Airport
False

29. It’s Quiz Time Next True False Answer the following question:
You’ve got it, great job!
EWR is the airport code for Newark
JFK is the airport designation for Newark International Airport
False
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30. It’s Quiz Time Next Answer the following question:
Type your answer here:
What would be the ICAO airport code for Boston, given that the IATA code is ‘BOS’
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31. It’s Quiz Time Next Answer the following question:
What would be the ICAO airport code for Boston, given that the IATA code is ‘BOS’
If you entered, KBOS, great job! If not, you may want to go back to the slides to review the material
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32. What was the story behind the three letter code of Chicago O’Hare?
It’s Quiz Time
Answer the following question:
Type your answer here:
What was the story behind the three letter code of Chicago O’Hare?
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33. What was the story behind the three letter code of Chicago O’Hare?
It’s Quiz Time
Answer the following question:
What was the story behind the three letter code of Chicago O’Hare?
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.
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34. It’s Quiz Time True False 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.
False

35. It’s Quiz Time True False Answer the following question:
Wrong, try again!
Most airports have both ICAO and IATA airport code. Some however, have only a three or a four letter code, but not both.
False

36. It’s Quiz Time Next True False Answer the following question:
You’ve got it, great job!
Most airports have both ICAO and IATA airport code. Some however, have only a three or a four letter code, but not both.
False
Next

37. It’s Quiz Time True False Answer the following question:
The three letter codes for Canadian airports always end with the letter ‘Z’ – for example – YYZ for Toronto
False

38. It’s Quiz Time True False Answer the following question:
Wrong, try again!
The three letter codes for Canadian airports always end with the letter ‘Z’ – for example – YYZ for Toronto
False

39. Canadian airports codes always start with the letter ‘Y’
It’s Quiz Time
Answer the following question:
True
You’ve got it, great job!
Canadian airports codes always start with the letter ‘Y’
The three letter codes for Canadian airports always end with the letter ‘Z’ – for example – YYZ for Toronto
False
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40. Click on the three letter code for Vancouver International Airport
It’s Quiz Time
YVR
YYC
YYZ
Click on the three letter code for Vancouver International Airport
JFK
SFO
ORD
IAD
LAX
ATL
DFW
MIA

41. It’s Quiz Time YVR YYC YYZ Wrong, try again! JFK SFO ORD IAD LAX ATL
LAX
ATL
DFW
MIA

42. That is the airport code for Vancouver!
It’s Quiz Time
YVR
YYC
YYZ
You’ve got it, great job!
That is the airport code for Vancouver!
JFK
SFO
ORD
IAD
LAX
ATL
DFW
Next
MIA

43. Great job! You have successfully completed this lesson!

44. Airportcod.es

45. Objectives 1 2
Identify airport letter codes for major U.S. airports
Understand the methodology of airport codes
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Next

46. Airport Letter Code Systems
As you can see, many airports have easy to derive letter codes:
Others do not:
LAX for Los Angeles
HKG for Hong Kong
ORD for Chicago O’Hare
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47. Airport Letter Code Systems
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: KLAX
New 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
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48. Click on the three letter code for Vancouver International Airport
It’s Quiz Time
YVR
YYC
YYZ
Click on the three letter code for Vancouver International Airport
JFK
SFO
ORD
IAD
LAX
ATL
DFW
MIA