What is an IATA code?
An IATA code is a short code assigned by the International Air Transport Association: three letters for an airport (like LAX) and two characters for an airline (like BA). Printed on every boarding pass and baggage tag, it identifies the airport or airline instantly, worldwide, without ambiguity.
IATA stands for the International Air Transport Association. It issues two kinds of code that matter for everyday travel: a three-letter airport code and a two-character airline code. When you book a flight, check a bag or read a departure board, you are reading IATA codes.
IATA airport codes (3 letters)
The three-letter airport code is the one most people mean by "airport code". LAX is Los Angeles, LHR is London Heathrow, SIN is Singapore Changi. Every airport with commercial service has a unique three-letter IATA code, and it never clashes with another active airport.
Some codes are obvious (MAD for Madrid), some are historical (ORD for Chicago O'Hare, from its former name Orchard Field). You can look up any of them with the search on our home page.
IATA airline codes (2 characters)
Airlines get a two-character IATA code that prefixes their flight numbers. In a fictional example, carrier "Acme Air" might fly under the code AK, so its flights read AK101. Browse real ones on the airline codes page.
IATA versus ICAO
IATA codes are built for passengers. ICAO codes, issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization, are built for operations: four letters for airports and three for airlines, used in flight plans and by air traffic control. We cover the full comparison in IATA vs ICAO codes.
Frequently asked questions
What does IATA stand for?
IATA stands for the International Air Transport Association, the trade body that assigns the 3-letter airport codes and 2-letter airline codes used across the commercial travel industry.
How many letters is an IATA code?
An IATA airport code is three letters, like LAX or SIN. An IATA airline code is two characters, like AA or BA. Both use the Latin alphabet and, for airlines, sometimes a digit.
Is JFK an IATA code?
Yes. JFK is the IATA code for John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Its ICAO code is KJFK.
Can two airports share an IATA code?
No. Each IATA airport code is unique worldwide. Codes are not reused between active airports, though a retired airport's code can eventually be reassigned.
Look up a code
Ready to find one? Search any airport or airline on the home page, or browse the busiest airports and airline codes.