Guides
The stories behind the codes
Short reads on why airport codes are the way they are, and how to remember them.
YYZ
Why do Canadian airports start with Y?
Toronto is YYZ, Vancouver is YVR, Montréal is YUL. Here's why nearly every big Canadian airport begins with a Y.
ORDAirport codes that remember an old name
ORD for O'Hare, MCO for Orlando, BOM for Mumbai. These codes kept the name the airport or city had before.
LHRLondon has six airports. Can you name their codes?
LHR, LGW, STN, LTN, LCY and SEN, plus the LON code that covers them all, and how not to mix them up.
LAXWhy does LAX have an X?
Los Angeles is LAX and Portland is PDX. The X doesn't stand for anything, and here's why it's there.
EGLLThree letters or four? IATA and ICAO codes explained
Heathrow is LHR on your boarding pass but EGLL to a pilot. What's the difference, and what are city codes like LON?
EWRWhy Newark is EWR, and other codes that dodged a clash
Newark couldn't be NEW, Washington Dulles swapped its letters, and Osaka needed a new code. The stories behind the odd ones.