# why is newark airport called ewr? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 2, 2005, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-newark-airport-called-ewr/333782 "2005-12-02T18:41:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-newark-airport-called-ewr/333782/1 "2005-12-02T18:41:02Z")
Thats my entire question ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-newark-airport-called-ewr/333782/2 "2005-12-02T18:44:21Z")
> [@MannyL](#): > > Thats my entire question It’s just an abbreviation, kinda like Tampa is TPA. And Fort Lauderdale is FLL. Some airport codes are abbreviations of the actual airport name, like Orlando is MCO (MCCoy). Honey (Former Eastern Airline Employee) ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-newark-airport-called-ewr/333782/3 "2005-12-02T18:47:34Z")
> **[Airport Codes, Identifiers, and Abbreviations](https://www.skygod.com/airport-codes/)** > > Over the next few months, we will be going into the history of airport codes and how they came to be the odd little three-letter abbreviations we have all become so used to seeing. The identifiers that seeem both obvious like Miami (MIA) make... Apparently, the Navy reserved codes beginning with N, while W and K are for radio stations, so there were few options left when these were removed from ‘Newark’. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-newark-airport-called-ewr/333782/4 "2005-12-02T19:29:31Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > [Airport Codes, Identifiers, and Abbreviations](http://www.skygod.com/asstd/abc.html) > > Apparently, the Navy reserved codes beginning with N, while W and K are for radio stations, so there were few options left when these were removed from ‘Newark’. Yes, radio station call leters (in the US) do start with W or K, but that does not preclude them from being used in airport codes. There are lots of codes that start with K or W. ---
**Author:** ![Bomzaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Bomzaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bomzaway)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-newark-airport-called-ewr/333782/5 "2005-12-02T19:36:20Z")
So it rhymes with “sewer”. Sorry…couldn’t resist. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-newark-airport-called-ewr/333782/6 "2005-12-02T19:41:25Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > [Airport Codes, Identifiers, and Abbreviations](http://www.skygod.com/asstd/abc.html) > > Apparently, the Navy reserved codes beginning with N, while W and K are for radio stations, so there were few options left when these were removed from ‘Newark’. > [@FatBaldGuy](#): > > Yes, radio station call leters (in the US) do start with W or K, but that does not preclude them from being used in airport codes. There are lots of codes that start with K or W. And plenty that begin with N. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-newark-airport-called-ewr/333782/7 "2005-12-02T19:44:03Z")
> [@Honey](#): > > It’s just an abbreviation Nitpick: It’s not really an abbreviation, but an airport identifier code. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-newark-airport-called-ewr/333782/8 "2005-12-02T20:11:58Z")
In general there is no set system for airport codes, that’s why you have DCA for Reagan National, LAX for Los Angeles, and even weirder ones. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-newark-airport-called-ewr/333782/9 "2005-12-02T20:18:24Z")
> [@Honey](#): > > And plenty that begin with N. Okay, name some airport codes that start with K, W, or N. I can’t think of any myself. Ed ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-newark-airport-called-ewr/333782/10 "2005-12-02T20:21:06Z")
EWR own FAQ says nothing about it [http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/ehisfram.htm](http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/ehisfram.htm) I have Email \*\*IATA \*\* with hopes they will reply. Jim ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-newark-airport-called-ewr/333782/11 "2005-12-02T20:29:19Z")
> [@the horse's mouth](#): > > 1-2-2 Assignment Authorities > a. The Federal Aviation Administration assigns three-letter identifiers (except those beginning with the letters, K, N, Q, W, Y, and Z), three and four character identifiers, and five-letter name codes for the United States and its jurisdictions. > > b. The Department of Navy assigns three-letter identifiers beginning with the letter N for the exclusive use of that Department. > > c. Transport Canada assigns two, three, and four character identifiers, including three letter identifiers beginning with letters Y and Z, for its areas of jurisdiction. > > d. The Federal Communication Commission assigns blocks of identifiers beginning with K and W for its areas of responsibility. The block beginning with Q is under international telecommunications jurisdiction. [http://www.faa.gov/atpubs/LID/CH1.htm#1](http://www.faa.gov/atpubs/LID/CH1.htm#1) ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-newark-airport-called-ewr/333782/12 "2005-12-02T20:31:01Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > Okay, name some airport codes that start with K, W, or N. I can’t think of any myself. > > Ed Here’s a [list](http://flyaow.com/airportcode.htm) of codes for you. KIN- Kingston, Jamaica WBU-Boulder, Co NAS-Nassau, Bahamas ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-newark-airport-called-ewr/333782/13 "2005-12-02T20:32:08Z")
“Ewr” sums up my opinion of the Newark airport, where I once spent an unhappy night in transfer en route to Cancun from Detroit. On preview, sewer also works well. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-newark-airport-called-ewr/333782/14 "2005-12-02T20:38:50Z")
Jamaica? Bahamas? I know we laugh about Americans and geography, but I think you missed a crucial point along the way. No idea how Boulder gets to be an expection, though! ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-newark-airport-called-ewr/333782/15 "2005-12-02T20:46:22Z")
Sorry, I missed the (in the US) part of your post. Here’s one for K. I don’t see one for N (in the US). KCL - Chignik, AK, USA ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-newark-airport-called-ewr/333782/16 "2005-12-02T20:51:45Z")
Or was that a naval base? Now I’m confused too. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-newark-airport-called-ewr/333782/17 "2005-12-02T20:54:02Z")
Looks like Alaska has a separate system, going by the Ks on [this](http://www.faa.gov/atpubs/LID/L_B.htm) stupidly-large page. There are a few municipal airports on that list with W codes, but Boulder isn’t one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-newark-airport-called-ewr/333782/18 "2005-12-02T20:56:00Z")
Chicago’s O’Hare airport is ORD. It has something to do with “Orchard” something something. It goes back to the '50s. There’s a definite meaning to it that has nothing to do with O’Hare (who was some big-shot test pilot, I believe). ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-newark-airport-called-ewr/333782/19 "2005-12-02T20:57:21Z")
Orchard Field, originally. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-newark-airport-called-ewr/333782/20 "2005-12-02T21:02:19Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Looks like Alaska has a separate system, going by the Ks on [this](http://www.faa.gov/atpubs/LID/L_B.htm) stupidly-large page. There are a few municipal airports on that list with W codes, but Boulder isn’t one of them. Yeah, there must be something up with Alaska because I just found another site with a bunch of US codes starting with N, and they’re all in Alaska. I wonder why that is… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-newark-airport-called-ewr/333782.md?page=2)