What are airport codes?
0 of 20 explored
Airports have two short names. The three-letter one is on your ticket, like LHR. The four-letter one is used by pilots, like EGLL.
Every airport has a three-letter IATA code that you see on tickets and a four-letter ICAO code that pilots and flight planners use.
Two codes
IATA codes (LHR, JFK) are the three letters on boarding passes and baggage tags. ICAO codes (EGLL, KJFK) are four letters used by pilots, air traffic control and flight planning.
What the first letters mean
The first one or two letters of an ICAO code show where the airport is: EG is the UK, K is the mainland USA, LF is France, ED is Germany, Y is Australia, RJ is Japan, C is Canada and OM is the UAE.
Odd-looking codes
Some codes come from old names. Chicago O’Hare is ORD because the site was once called Orchard Field.
Did you know?Chicago O’Hare is ORD because the site was once called Orchard Field.
Quick check: Which one is the four-letter code that pilots use?
Watch for it. Look for the code on an airport page, then try to guess the country from the first letters. Open the live streams