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These codes are governed by the IATA (International Air Transport Association)
An IATA airport code, also known as an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or
simply a location identifier,[1] is a three-letter code designating many airports
around the world, defined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The
characters prominently displayed on baggage tags attached at airport check-in
desks are an example of a way these codes are used.
The assignment of these codes is governed by IATA Resolution 763, and it is administered by IATA
headquarters in Montreal. The codes are published biannually in the IATA Airline Coding Directory.
How did theses codes start to be designated and used ?
Airport codes arose out of the convenience that it 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, thus 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.
Generally speaking, airport codes are named after the first three letters of the city in which it is
located
ATL for Atlanta, SIN for Singapore, MEX for Mexico City, IST for Istanbul;
or a combination of the letters in its name,
EWR for Newark, GDL for Guadalajara, JNB for Johannesburg, HKG for Hong Kong, SLC for Salt
Lake City and WAW for Warsaw.
Some airports in the United States retained their NWS codes and simply appended an X at the end,
such as
LAX for Los Angeles, PDX for Portland, and PHX for Phoenix
A - Z of Flight
May 2017
www.alliance-airways.net
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