IATA and ICAO codes: Differences and Structure

With more than 40,000 airports around the world, an identification system is required to identify each airport, differentiate it from the rest. The IATA and ICAO aerodrome identification codes serve this purpose. However, although they are used to designate the same airport, there is no relationship between them and they have some differences.

The IATA code is the most well-known airport code and the one mostly used by passenger airlines because it appears on airline tickets, reservation status, boarding passes, baggage labels, and information displays at airports.

An IATA airport code, also known as an IATA location identifierIATA station code, or simply a location identifier, is a geocode designating many airports and metropolitan areas around the world, defined by (IATA). The assignment of these codes is governed by IATA Resolution 763, and it is administered by the IATA’s headquarters in Montreal. The codes are published semiannually in the IATA Airline Coding Directory.

Source: Wikipedia

IATA codes consist of a three-letter code that is usually related to the city or region served by the airport or the name of the aerodrome that existed before the creation of the airport.

The ICAO codes are designated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and are used by aviation “professionals” of the aeronautical transport sector (controllers, pilots, etc.), but in general, they are not as well known to passengers. The ICAO airport code or location indicator is a four-letter code designating aerodromes around the world. These codes are used by air traffic control and airline operations such as flight planning. ICAO codes are also used to identify other aviation facilities such as weather stations, International Flight Service Stations, or Area Control Centers, whether or not they are located at airports. Flight information regions are also identified by a unique ICAO-code

Unlike the IATA codes, the ICAO codes generally have a regional structure and are comprehensive. In general, the first letter is allocated by continent and represents a country or group of countries within that continent. The second letter represents a country within that region, and the remaining two are used to identify each airport. The exception to this rule is larger countries that have single-letter country codes, where the remaining three letters identify the airport. In either case and unlike IATA codes, ICAO codes generally provide geographical context.

Source: Wikipedia

International Civil Aviation Organization  
ICAO is a UN specialized agency, established by States in 1944 to manage the administration and governance of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention). ICAO creates regulations for aviation safety, security, efficiency and regularity, and environmental protection. The organization also regulates operating practices and procedures covering the technical field of aviation.

Source: ICAO

International Air Transport Association  
IATA is the trade association for the world’s airlines, representing some 290 airlines or 82% of total air traffic. IATA supports many areas of aviation activity and helps formulate industry policy on critical aviation issues. ​

Source: IATA

MixJet Flight Support professional team has the knowledge and expertise to respond to all your requests in the shortest possible time. Moreover, what distinguishes us besides our dedication, expertise, and passion are our competitive prices, credit facility availability, and most reasonable disbursement on third party invoices.

Please write to us at ops@mixjet.aero  or call us at +971 65529577 and get the best quality service at the best competitive reasonable cost.