Glossary
Airport Codes & Classification
IATA Code
Definition
A three-letter alphanumeric code assigned by the International Air Transport Association to identify airports worldwide. Used on boarding passes, luggage tags, and flight bookings (e.g., JFK, LAX, ICN).
Related Terms
ICAO Code
A four-letter code assigned by the International Civil Aviation Organization to identify airports, used primarily in flight plans and air traffic control (e.g., KJFK, KLAX, RKSI).
FAA LID
A location identifier assigned by the Federal Aviation Administration to airports in the United States. Often identical to the IATA code but can differ for smaller airports.
Airport Identifier
A unique code used to identify an airport, which may be an IATA code, ICAO code, FAA LID, or local identifier depending on the context and region.