# Useless trivia about IATA airport codes **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** vacation-travel\ **Created:** [June 4, 2024, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useless-trivia-about-iata-airport-codes/1002489 "2024-06-04T21:04:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2024, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useless-trivia-about-iata-airport-codes/1002489/21 "2024-06-04T23:01:45Z")
Obligatory CGP Grey video: > **[✈️ The Maddening Mess of Airport Codes! ✈️](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfOUVYQnuhw%2F)** > > \- Thank you, Bonnie Bees, for making this video possible: https://www.patreon.com/cgpgrey## Related Videos+ The Simple Secret of Runway Digits: https://youtu... Brian ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2024, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useless-trivia-about-iata-airport-codes/1002489/22 "2024-06-04T23:14:28Z")
Portland International Jetport (Maine) is PWM, from Portland Westbrook Municipal…“Portland” and “Municipal” from when it was a city-owned airfield, and “Westbrook” from the original location of its last runway beacon. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2024, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useless-trivia-about-iata-airport-codes/1002489/23 "2024-06-04T23:39:43Z")
And Presque Isle is PQI. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2024, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useless-trivia-about-iata-airport-codes/1002489/24 "2024-06-04T23:51:03Z")
Denver’s Stapleton Airport (DEN) closed in 1995 and was replaced by Denver International Airport which everyone called DIA. However disappointingly they did not change the IATA code to DIA, they kept it as DEN which is all the branding now. They could have however since the code DIA wasn’t put into use until Doha International Airport opened in 2014. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2024, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useless-trivia-about-iata-airport-codes/1002489/25 "2024-06-04T23:57:30Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > ORD may not immediately evoke Chicago but it’s a major hub so its airport code is generally familiar. I used to think the code came from the name O’Hare Field, but as someone correctly pointed out earlier, when the IATA code was first assigned in the 1940s it was still called Orchard Field. Minor addition of further facts. ORD is located on what was originally a small non-incorporated community called Orchard Place, for all the orchards there. In WWII, an aircraft manufactory and runway was built there, and that was called Orchard Field. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2024, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useless-trivia-about-iata-airport-codes/1002489/26 "2024-06-05T00:44:59Z")
There is one portion of that video that I completely disagree with, though I may have misunderstood since I watched it quickly. He cites the “Y” and “W” historical weather station explanation of how major Canadian airport codes came to start with “Y”, and then **seems** to dismiss it by claiming that the ICAO 4-letter codes came first, that the first letter is the region and the second is the country, that the ICAO chose “Y” as the country letter for Canada, and the three-letter IATA codes followed from that. It may be that I’m misunderstanding his claim, but this is just flat-out wrong! First of all the region + country format applies to Europe and probably many other places, but it does not apply to the US or Canada. In those countries, the region _ **is** _ the country, and the other three letters have no predefined ICAO format. Thus, the “region” for any airport in the US is denoted by “K”, and the other three letters are the same as the IATA code. In Canada, the “region” is denoted by “C”, and the second letter is usually “Y” by convention and not in conformance to any ICAO standard. And, in fact, the second letter doesn’t even need to be “Y”; it’s “Z” for over a dozen small airports and seaplane ports, like ZFN (ICAO: CZFN) for Tulita airport in the Northwest Territories. And for US airports, the second letter can be anything. It has no special meaning at all… ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2024, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useless-trivia-about-iata-airport-codes/1002489/27 "2024-06-05T01:05:06Z")
**SXM** is Sint Maarten, the airport on the Dutch Side. Called The Princess Juliana Airport, it suffered massive damage during Irma. The following year the airport consisted of a series of tents, with cables running along the ground. They continue to rebuild today. There’s a tiny airport for small planes in an empty field near Grande Case on the French side. No idea its code. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2024, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useless-trivia-about-iata-airport-codes/1002489/28 "2024-06-05T01:41:07Z")
(starting at 13:30) He later explains that the “CY” in ICAO codes come from ITU radio codes which in turn come from TELEGRAPGH codes (and a story for another time) ICAO codes is Alaska often start with P – the FAA designations are all over the place for private fields (Holland airpark somewhat near me is 36WI) Brian ETA at 10:15 he explicitly mentions US and Canada do not use the second letter for location ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2024, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useless-trivia-about-iata-airport-codes/1002489/29 "2024-06-05T01:43:19Z")
My sister travels regularly between YYZ (Toronto), YUL (Montreal) and YYG (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island) and counts herself lucky that her checked bags haven’t gone astray yet. And another one that can be confusing is EWR, for Newark NJ, which serves the NY Metro area. I flew there from LAX sometime in the mid-80s when JFK and LGA (La Guardia) were still the dominant area airports and had a hard time getting a LAX employee to understand that I was going to New-ark, not New York JFK. Maybe now that it’s a hub and the 13th busiest airport in the US, it’s more familiar? ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2024, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useless-trivia-about-iata-airport-codes/1002489/30 "2024-06-05T03:16:23Z")
Back in the good old days before barcodes and suchlike I flew from SEA (Seattle, duh) to HLN (Helena MT) with a stop in GEG (Spokane WA). My bag, on the other hand, went to HNL (just guess). Kinda wished I’d gone along. ---
**Author:** ![UDS1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47774/32.png) [@UDS1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS1)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2024, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useless-trivia-about-iata-airport-codes/1002489/31 "2024-06-05T03:27:28Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > “LAX” is probably the most recognizable airport code in the world. You’d think. But, actually, outside the US, not so much. A surprising amount of bags that should to to LAX make their way to LOS because, obviously, that _should_ be the code for Los Angeles. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2024, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useless-trivia-about-iata-airport-codes/1002489/32 "2024-06-05T03:31:26Z")
> [@UDS1](#): > > A surprising amount of bags that should to to LAX make their way to LOS because, obviously, that _should_ be the code for Los Angeles. That can’t be true anymore. Everything is automated now. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2024, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useless-trivia-about-iata-airport-codes/1002489/33 "2024-06-05T03:33:38Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > I flew from SEA (Seattle, duh) to HLN (Helena MT) with a stop in GEG (Spokane WA). My bag, on the other hand, went to HNL (just guess). Kinda wished I’d gone along. Couldn’t have made much difference – it’s exactly the same letters, just two of them transposed! 😆 I hope your luggage came back with a pineapple and a ukulele! ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2024, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useless-trivia-about-iata-airport-codes/1002489/34 "2024-06-05T04:14:09Z")
Tangentially related, here we have the FAA approach chart to Portsmouth International in NH (PSM). The image of Tweety bird was added – it’s not on the official chart. Reading the 5-character waypoint names starting at the top left, then moving right, then down, you pass through ITAWT ITAWA PUDYE TTATT. On a missed approach you are directed to climb to 3000 direct to TTATT and on track 165° to IDEED and hold. 🐤🐈‍⬛ I believe @Richard_Pearse first mentioned this. There are quite a few others, but this is one of the best. [![](https://i.imgur.com/T5ViQM6.png) ](https://i.imgur.com/T5ViQM6.png) ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2024, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useless-trivia-about-iata-airport-codes/1002489/35 "2024-06-05T12:22:53Z")
“That can’t be true anymore. Everything is automated now.” And thank goodness for that. Nowadays, no luggage ever gets lost! 😁 ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2024, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useless-trivia-about-iata-airport-codes/1002489/36 "2024-06-05T12:53:27Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Not entirely unprecedented as Houston International Airport is IAH (technically George W Bush Intercontinental Airport)… Nitpicks from a native Houstonian: From its founding in the late 1960s, the airport in question with IATA code IAH was named “Houston **Intercontinental** Airport.” They did later rename it “George Bush Intercontinental Airport” (in honor of George H.W. Bush, not his son), but it has always been “Intercontinental” to local residents. The _other_ airport in Houston (William P. Hobby Airport, with IATA code HOU) on the south side of the city was known for a time before the opening of IAH as Houston International Airport, but it lost that moniker when it was renamed after Hobby. It also closed for a few years after IAH opened until Southwest Airlines started passenger service out of Hobby in the early 1970s. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2024, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useless-trivia-about-iata-airport-codes/1002489/37 "2024-06-05T12:57:37Z")
Obviously lots of luggage gets lost but not because the wrong airport code was entered. It will match the ticket. I used to travel extensively on business and I learned my lesson. I always pack light and never check my bag. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2024, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useless-trivia-about-iata-airport-codes/1002489/38 "2024-06-05T13:28:47Z")
I know, my comment was tongue in cheek. I travel a lot too, and have the same philosophy: travel light and never check any luggage. I’m traveling right now and yesterday I went through EWR … God I hate that airport no matter how the code came about. EWR = HELL. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2024, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useless-trivia-about-iata-airport-codes/1002489/39 "2024-06-05T13:39:16Z")
At least EWR has restrooms! My feelings about O’Hare are the feelings most other travelers reserve for Newark… It’s a miserable, overgrown airport full of miserable people, and not nearly enough restroom stalls to accommodate them all. Also, the dining options suck, and I’m pretty sure my credit card got skimmed at a kiosk there. When planning a recent business flight, I intentionally picked less than ideal flight times just to avoid a layover at O’Hare. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2024, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useless-trivia-about-iata-airport-codes/1002489/40 "2024-06-05T15:14:23Z")
What was Newark’s code before it went to three letters? EW? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useless-trivia-about-iata-airport-codes/1002489.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useless-trivia-about-iata-airport-codes/1002489.md?page=3)