# Why is the Los Angeles Airport called LAX? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 28, 2005, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-los-angeles-airport-called-lax/314529 "2005-07-28T04:18:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-los-angeles-airport-called-lax/314529/61 "2005-07-30T08:22:27Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > The last time I flew in there, Torrillos was still in power and the place was called Torrillos International. > > Tocumen was the name of a nearby village and was the secondary name of the airport. I suspect it had been named Tocumen before Torrillos got a swell head & renamed it after himself. > > Now that he’s in jail in Miami, I guess the locals gave it the old name back. I haven’t been there or looked it up since the the early 80s. You’re think of Omar Torrijos. And he’s not in jail. He’s died in a somewhat suspicious aircraft accident in 1981. Now Manuel Noriega, there’s a Panamanian leader doing time in the US. One of Torrijos’s sons is now the president of Panama. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-los-angeles-airport-called-lax/314529/62 "2005-07-30T12:18:28Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Fresno is FAT. And Sioux Falls, SD is FSD, at which more than one flight attendant has giggled. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-los-angeles-airport-called-lax/314529/63 "2005-07-30T12:39:39Z")
> [@BobT](#): > > You’re think of Omar Torrijos. And he’s not in jail. He’s died in a somewhat suspicious aircraft accident in 1981. > > Now Manuel Noriega, there’s a Panamanian leader doing time in the US. > > One of Torrijos’s sons is now the president of Panama. D’oh!! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-los-angeles-airport-called-lax/314529/64 "2005-07-30T13:03:55Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > And Sioux Falls, SD is FSD, at which more than one flight attendant has giggled. I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-los-angeles-airport-called-lax/314529/65 "2005-07-31T10:31:29Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > I don’t get it. **F** eminine **S** pray **D** eodorant. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-los-angeles-airport-called-lax/314529/66 "2005-07-31T11:28:47Z")
> [@pilot141](#): > > No special reason for Canada to start with “Y”, just as the “K” that the US uses really means nothing. It should be considered an honor, because it means that Canada gets Y+3 naming. I believe only the US and Canada have the “letter” +3 honor. Canada has CY+2 doesn’t it? Australia has Y+3. Smaller airfields get three letters all of their own. Larger ones get two of their own plus one borrowed from the primary city in their part of the country. P for Perth (Perth gets the entire western half of Aus including the Northern Territory), B for Brisbane in Queensland, S for Sydney in New South Wales (including the Australian Capital Territory), M for Melbourne in Victoria (and Tasmania), and A for Adelaide in South Australia. A small aerodrome in WA would get Y+3, e.g., YBRM for Broome. A larger one would get YP+2, e.g., YPKA for Karratha. The navaids are also named after the aerodrome in the same way. Broome NDB is BRM, Karratha VOR and NDB are both named KA. ---
**Author:** ![pilot141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-los-angeles-airport-called-lax/314529/67 "2005-07-31T14:03:32Z")
:smack: ! You’re right, of course. Nothing to see here…move along… ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-los-angeles-airport-called-lax/314529/68 "2005-07-31T19:18:33Z")
My vote for most confusing is [Houghton County Memorial Airport](http://www.airnav.com/airport/CMX)- CMX. Also, there’s certainly plenty of cities that didn’t name their airports, for example- Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Detroit-Wayne County International Denver International ---
**Author:** ![Neptunian\_Slug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce7236/32.png) [@Neptunian\_Slug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neptunian_Slug)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-los-angeles-airport-called-lax/314529/69 "2005-08-01T02:00:32Z")
> [@St. Urho](#): > > My vote for most confusing is [Houghton County Memorial Airport](http://www.airnav.com/airport/CMX)- CMX. > > Also, there’s certainly plenty of cities that didn’t name their airports, for example- > Minneapolis-Saint Paul International > Detroit-Wayne County International > Denver International Although the way things are going with city budgets, I am surprised they haven’t sold naming rights to their airports. Pat’s Cheeseteak International (Philadelphia) Little Caesar’s International (Detroit) ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-los-angeles-airport-called-lax/314529/70 "2005-08-01T02:06:17Z")
“In a few moments we will be landing at Microsoft International. On behalf of the captain and crew of flight 1138, I’d like to welcome you all to Seattle.” ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-los-angeles-airport-called-lax/314529/71 "2005-08-01T04:38:02Z")
> [@St. Urho](#): > > My vote for most confusing is [Houghton County Memorial Airport](http://www.airnav.com/airport/CMX)- CMX. > > Also, there’s certainly plenty of cities that didn’t name their airports, for example- > Minneapolis-Saint Paul International > Detroit-Wayne County International > Denver International Denver’s old airport was named after a person, it was Stapleton International Airport. I suppose they haven’t found anyone to name it after yet. History still has to judge Federico Pena. ---
**Author:** ![Neptunian\_Slug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce7236/32.png) [@Neptunian\_Slug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neptunian_Slug)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-los-angeles-airport-called-lax/314529/72 "2005-08-01T05:40:51Z")
> [@BobT](#): > > Denver’s old airport was named after a person, it was Stapleton International Airport. > > I suppose they haven’t found anyone to name it after yet. History still has to judge Federico Pena. Pena the whole road leading up to the airport didn’t he? I would think that’s ok for now. Not being from Denver I can’t think of any suitably deserving people for the honor. Or if the city needs to fill a budget hole, Denver-Coors Brewing International. ---
**Author:** ![pilot141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-los-angeles-airport-called-lax/314529/73 "2005-08-01T06:05:11Z")
Heh…“honor” Anyone else remember when DIA’s super-special baggage-handling equipment was going to stage it’s big debut? I would personally pay anything I could to make sure my name was NOT associated with that airport! ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-los-angeles-airport-called-lax/314529/74 "2005-08-01T10:08:09Z")
> [@Civil Guy](#): > > …And now, for extra credit: > > What is Amtrak’s three-letter code for Union Station, in downtown L.A.? > > Correct, it’s **LAX**. No kidding. Nope, I can’t say for sure, but I really suspect that the airfield codes came first. Yeah, I was helping someone make a reservation for the Surfliner train, and she didn’t believe me that she should just type in “LAX,” not “Los Angeles.” As for re-naming things (and I apologize if this is somewhat of a highjack), they sure don’t have much trouble re-naming stadiums. I almost feel silly when I mention “Petco Park” in San Diego, where the Padres now play. They used to play at “Jack Murphy,” Stadium–I don’t remember who he was, and I’m too lazy to find out at this hour–but now the stadium is called “Qualcom,” a big telecommunications company in San Diego. If you recall the San Diego Sports Arena, it’s now “Pay-One,” or some other such nonsense–a real estate company, I think. (If you’ve seen the movie “Almost Famous,” that’s where the kid gets in to the backstage and meets the band that he later follows around writing about.) And then there’s the “Staples Center” in L.A. It goes on, and on. This is big product placement, big-time. I’m surprised no airport has considered re-naming itself after a corporation just to get the money. (I’ve heard of even high schools considering re-naming themselves after local businesses.) It seems like there is rarely much, if any, public knowlege of these renaming decisions before they happen. This is especially so in cases of street names, in my experience. Somehow, someone persuaded the L.A. city council to rename one block of what was formerly “(North) New Hampshire Avenue” to “L. Ron Hubbard Avenue.” Of course, this single block is adjacent to the “church” of Scientology’s word headquarters. So Scientology obviously handed over a tidy sum for this, because it still retains its tax-exempt status and is a “religious” institution–though I don’t know if there is anything in the L.A. City Charter about “separation of church and state.” It can’t be a cultural recognition thing, like Luis Armstrong in Nawleans or Joe DiMaggio in San Francisco, because L Ron Hubbard is a terrible writer, who said, “The best way to make money is to start a religion” (or something to that effect). I lived on that street, just a couple of blocks north, and no one asked me if it should have been renamed. But then, even Richard Nixon had part of a freeway named after himself (one near LAX, actually). They might have changed it, though. And, finally, the L.A. City Council decided to rename several miles of 9th street “James M. Wood Boulevard.” Who the hell is James M. Wood, and why re-name a street after him? What about all the residents and businesses that would have to re-do their business cards, etc.? And what is 9th Street Elementary School going to call itself, now? I guess it’ll go the way of 10th Street Elementary School, since only a few isolated blocks of 10th Street still exist. (The rest was changed to Olympic Boulevard, I assume after the first time L.A. had the Olympics.) ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-los-angeles-airport-called-lax/314529/75 "2005-08-01T11:13:43Z")
1. Jack Murphy was a sportswriter from San Diego who was also a civic booster and advocated building a better stadium for the pro teams in San Diego. 2. The Richard Nixon Freeway had its name changed to the Marina Freeway and its length greatly shortened in the mid 1970s. It’s SR 22 and it’s just a few miles long. 3. James M. Wood was a labor leader and head of the LA City Community Redevelopment Commission. When he passed away, a portion of 9th Street was named after him. That change was made in the late 1990s. In the City of Los Angeles, changing a street name, is subject to approval by the City Council. I would assume a similar principle exists in other cities. There are hearings and debates and votes. It’s not exactly done _in camera_. ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-los-angeles-airport-called-lax/314529/76 "2005-08-01T20:48:37Z")
> [@pilot141](#): > > Heh…“honor” > > Anyone else remember when DIA’s super-special baggage-handling equipment was going to stage it’s big debut? > > I would personally pay anything I could to make sure my name was NOT associated with that airport! The mechanized baggage system will be [completely abandoned](http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_2789705) by this fall. In addition to Pena Blvd going out to DIA, the terminal is the Jeppeson Terminal. ---
**Author:** ![Neptunian\_Slug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce7236/32.png) [@Neptunian\_Slug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neptunian_Slug)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-los-angeles-airport-called-lax/314529/77 "2005-08-01T21:58:27Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > Yeah, I was helping someone make a reservation for the Surfliner train, and she didn’t believe me that she should just type in “LAX,” not “Los Angeles.” > > As for re-naming things (and I apologize if this is somewhat of a highjack), they sure don’t have much trouble re-naming stadiums. I almost feel silly when I mention “Petco Park” in San Diego, where the Padres now play. They used to play at “Jack Murphy,” Stadium–I don’t remember who he was, and I’m too lazy to find out at this hour–but now the stadium is called “Qualcom,” a big telecommunications company in San Diego. If you recall the San Diego Sports Arena, it’s now “Pay-One,” or some other such nonsense–a real estate company, I think. (If you’ve seen the movie “Almost Famous,” that’s where the kid gets in to the backstage and meets the band that he later follows around writing about.) > > And then there’s the “Staples Center” in L.A. It goes on, and on. This is big product placement, big-time. I’m surprised no airport has considered re-naming itself after a corporation just to get the money. (I’ve heard of even high schools considering re-naming themselves after local businesses.) Not to go too far O/T but Ohio State’s Value City Arena shames all alumni. Not only did the school sell out, but they sold out to one of the crummiest retail chains out there. I think Staples, Best Buy or Michaels Crafts would be a huge step up for the Buckeyes. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-los-angeles-airport-called-lax/314529/78 "2005-08-01T23:44:49Z")
> [@E-Diddy](#): > > Although the way things are going with city budgets, I am surprised they haven’t sold naming rights to their airports. Memphis is nicknamed (by pilots who suspect favoritism by ATC) “FedEx International”. If you buy a ticket from Fresno Air Terminal to Fukuoka, Japan, your ticket will call you a FAT-FUK passenger. Denver International is DEN, the old Stapleton code, but is still called DIA. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-los-angeles-airport-called-lax/314529/79 "2005-08-01T23:48:05Z")
> [@pilot141](#): > > For example Frankfurt, Germany gets EDDF. E=Europe. D=Deutschland. DF= Frankfurt. Northwestern Europe has the “E” first letter; southern Europe has “L”, Mexico and Central America has “M”, etc. Which is why London Heathrow is both LHR and EGLL. AFAIK the only 2-code airport around, unless you count Basel, Switzerland (BSL) and Mulhouse, France (FSB) - which happen to be the same airport. Thanks for the corrections, folks - serves me right for posting off the top of my head. ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-los-angeles-airport-called-lax/314529/80 "2005-08-02T07:14:39Z")
> [@chaoticdonkey](#): > > So is this why Northwest Arkansas Regional is XNA? Correct. That, and the fact that NWA was already used for Moheli airport in the Comoros Islands. Though the airport itself has [its own explanation.](http://www.nwara.com/about/faq.asp#ans66) It appears, however, that WMT would have been available, as would HFL or HIA (for Highfill International Airport) 🆒 . [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-los-angeles-airport-called-lax/314529.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-los-angeles-airport-called-lax/314529.md?page=5)