Airport Codes List | IATA Airport Codes, ICAO Codes - Air Grace Aviation Academy
Airport Codes List

Whether you are booking a flight, learning air ticketing, preparing for an aviation career, or simply curious about airport abbreviations, understanding airport codes is one of the most important skills in the travel industry. This Airport Codes List will help you get familiar with the essential abbreviations used worldwide.

Every airport across the world has a unique code that helps airlines, travel agencies, airports, and reservation systems identify destinations accurately. Instead of writing long airport names, airlines use short standardized codes to avoid confusion and improve efficiency.

For example:

  • DEL = Delhi
  • BOM = Mumbai
  • DXB = Dubai
  • LHR = London Heathrow
  • JFK = New York John F. Kennedy
  • SIN = Singapore Changi

Imagine if every airline had to write “Indira Gandhi International Airport” every time a ticket was booked. Reservation systems would become slower, mistakes would increase, and communication between airlines would be much more difficult. Airport codes solve this problem by providing a universal language used throughout the aviation industry.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn:

  • What airport codes are
  • Difference between IATA and ICAO airport codes
  • Why airport codes are important
  • How airport codes are assigned
  • Major airport codes around the world
  • Airport codes used in India
  • Airport codes for air ticketing professionals
  • Frequently asked questions about airport codes

Whether you are a student, travel consultant, airline employee, or aspiring ticketing executive, this guide will help you understand everything about airport codes.


What Are Airport Codes?

Airport codes are unique identifiers assigned to airports around the world. These codes are used by airlines, airports, Global Distribution Systems (GDS), travel agencies, cargo companies, immigration authorities, and booking platforms.

Instead of using long airport names, airlines rely on standardized three-letter or four-letter codes to identify destinations quickly and accurately.

For example:

AirportCityCountryIATA Code
Indira Gandhi International AirportDelhiIndiaDEL
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International AirportMumbaiIndiaBOM
Dubai International AirportDubaiUAEDXB
Singapore Changi AirportSingaporeSingaporeSIN
Heathrow AirportLondonUnited KingdomLHR

These codes are recognized globally and are used in:

  • Flight reservations
  • Boarding passes
  • Airline tickets
  • Baggage tags
  • Cargo shipments
  • Airport displays
  • Flight schedules
  • Travel itineraries

Without airport codes, managing millions of daily flights worldwide would be nearly impossible.


Why Are Airport Codes Important?

Airport codes play a vital role in the aviation and travel industry. They simplify communication, reduce errors, and ensure smooth flight operations.

Here are some of the key reasons why airport codes are essential:

1. Faster Flight Reservations

When travel agents or airline staff book tickets using systems like Amadeus, Galileo, or Sabre, they enter airport codes instead of full airport names.

For example:

DEL → DXB

takes only seconds to search.

Typing:

Indira Gandhi International Airport → Dubai International Airport

would be slower and more prone to mistakes.


2. Avoids Confusion

Many cities have airports with similar names.

Airport codes ensure that the correct airport is selected.

For example:

  • LHR = London Heathrow
  • LGW = London Gatwick
  • LCY = London City Airport
  • STN = London Stansted

Without airport codes, booking the wrong airport would become common.


3. Used on Every Airline Ticket

Every e-ticket includes airport codes.

Example:

DEL – DXB

This means the passenger is flying from Delhi to Dubai.


4. Essential for Baggage Handling

Airport baggage systems rely on airport codes.

When your luggage receives a baggage tag, it contains airport codes showing where your bag should travel.

Example:

DEL → SIN

Your luggage automatically follows the correct route.


5. Global Standard

Airport codes are recognized worldwide.

Whether you’re flying with Air India, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, or Singapore Airlines, the same airport codes are used.


Who Assigns Airport Codes?

Two major international organizations assign airport identifiers:

International Air Transport Association (IATA)

IATA assigns the three-letter airport codes that passengers commonly see.

Examples:

DEL

DXB

JFK

LHR

BOM

SIN

These are the codes used in:

  • Airline tickets
  • Boarding passes
  • Reservation systems
  • Flight booking websites
  • Travel agencies

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

ICAO assigns four-letter airport codes.

Examples:

VIDP = Delhi Airport

OMDB = Dubai Airport

EGLL = Heathrow Airport

KJFK = JFK Airport

ICAO codes are mainly used by:

  • Air Traffic Control
  • Pilots
  • Flight Dispatch
  • Aviation Authorities
  • Airport Operations

IATA Codes vs ICAO Codes

Many people confuse IATA and ICAO airport codes. While both identify airports, they serve different purposes.

FeatureIATA CodeICAO Code
Characters3 Letters4 Letters
Used ByPassengers, Airlines, Travel AgentsPilots, Air Traffic Control
Example (Delhi)DELVIDP
Example (Dubai)DXBOMDB
Seen On TicketsYesNo
Used in Flight PlanningNoYes
Used in GDS SystemsYesLimited

For students pursuing an Air Ticketing Course, learning IATA airport codes is essential because they are used daily in airline reservation systems.


How Are Airport Codes Assigned?

Airport codes are generally derived from the city name or airport name, but there are several exceptions.

Based on City Name

Delhi → DEL

Singapore → SIN

Paris → PAR

Tokyo → TYO


Based on Airport Name

Heathrow → LHR

Charles de Gaulle → CDG

Haneda → HND

Narita → NRT


Historical Reasons

Some airport codes were assigned decades ago and have remained unchanged.

Example:

Mumbai = BOM

Although the city’s name changed from Bombay to Mumbai, the airport code remains BOM because changing it would disrupt global aviation systems.

Similarly:

Chennai = MAA

Formerly Madras.

The code was retained for continuity.


Why Don’t Airport Codes Always Match the City Name?

Many airport codes were created before cities changed their official names.

Examples include:

CityAirport CodeReason
MumbaiBOMFormerly Bombay
ChennaiMAAFormerly Madras
KolkataCCUFormerly Calcutta
BeijingPEKHistorical spelling Peking
Ho Chi Minh CitySGNFormerly Saigon

These codes continue to be used because they are recognized worldwide and changing them would create confusion.


Here are some of the world’s most recognized airport codes:

Airport CodeAirportCountry
DELDelhiIndia
BOMMumbaiIndia
BLRBengaluruIndia
HYDHyderabadIndia
DXBDubaiUAE
DOHDohaQatar
AUHAbu DhabiUAE
LHRLondon HeathrowUnited Kingdom
CDGParis Charles de GaulleFrance
FRAFrankfurtGermany
AMSAmsterdam SchipholNetherlands
JFKNew YorkUSA
LAXLos AngelesUSA
ORDChicago O’HareUSA
YYZToronto PearsonCanada
SINSingapore ChangiSingapore
HKGHong KongHong Kong SAR
BKKBangkok SuvarnabhumiThailand
KULKuala LumpurMalaysia
SYDSydneyAustralia

How Airport Codes Are Used in Air Ticketing

Airport codes are at the heart of airline reservations. Every booking made through Global Distribution Systems (GDS) such as Amadeus, Galileo, or Sabre, uses IATA airport codes instead of full airport names.

For example, if a customer wants to travel from Delhi to Singapore via Dubai, a reservation professional will search using:

DEL → DXB → SIN

rather than typing the full airport names. This speeds up the booking process, minimizes errors, and ensures compatibility across all airline reservation systems.

Professionals working in travel agencies, airlines, online travel companies (OTAs), and airport ticketing counters use airport codes every day for:

  • Flight bookings
  • Ticket issuance
  • Fare calculations
  • PNR creation
  • Flight changes and reissues
  • Refund processing
  • Baggage routing
  • Travel itineraries

This is why learning airport codes is one of the first topics covered in professional Air Ticketing and GDS training.


Why Learning Airport Codes Is Important for Your Career

If you’re planning a career in aviation or travel, memorizing commonly used airport codes can give you a significant advantage during training and job interviews.

Knowledge of airport codes is valuable for roles such as:

  • Air Ticketing Executive
  • Travel Consultant
  • Reservation Executive
  • Airline Customer Service Agent
  • Airport Ground Staff
  • Tour Consultant
  • Corporate Travel Executive
  • GDS Reservation Specialist

Recruiters often expect candidates to recognize major airport codes like DEL, BOM, DXB, LHR, SIN, and JFK without hesitation, especially when working with reservation systems.

Now that you understand what airport codes are and why they are important, let’s explore the complete A–Z list of commonly used IATA airport codes from around the world.

Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
AUHAbu Dhabi International AirportAbu DhabiUAE
AMDSardar Vallabhbhai Patel International AirportAhmedabadIndia
ATQSri Guru Ram Dass Jee International AirportAmritsarIndia
ATLHartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International AirportAtlantaUSA
AKLAuckland AirportAucklandNew Zealand
AYTAntalya AirportAntalyaTürkiye
ADDAddis Ababa Bole International AirportAddis AbabaEthiopia
ALGHouari Boumediene AirportAlgiersAlgeria

Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
BOMChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International AirportMumbaiIndia
BLRKempegowda International AirportBengaluruIndia
BBIBiju Patnaik International AirportBhubaneswarIndia
BKKSuvarnabhumi AirportBangkokThailand
BCNBarcelona-El Prat AirportBarcelonaSpain
BERBerlin Brandenburg AirportBerlinGermany
BOSBoston Logan International AirportBostonUSA
BRUBrussels AirportBrusselsBelgium
Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
CCUNetaji Subhas Chandra Bose International AirportKolkataIndia
COKCochin International AirportKochiIndia
CDGCharles de Gaulle AirportParisFrance
CMBBandaranaike International AirportColomboSri Lanka
CANGuangzhou Baiyun International AirportGuangzhouChina
CPTCape Town International AirportCape TownSouth Africa
CGKSoekarno-Hatta International AirportJakartaIndonesia
Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
DELIndira Gandhi International AirportDelhiIndia
DXBDubai International AirportDubaiUAE
DOHHamad International AirportDohaQatar
DACHazrat Shahjalal International AirportDhakaBangladesh
DMMKing Fahd International AirportDammamSaudi Arabia
DFWDallas/Fort Worth International AirportDallasUSA
Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
FRAFrankfurt AirportFrankfurtGermany
FCOLeonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino AirportRomeItaly
FLRFlorence AirportFlorenceItaly
Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
GOIManohar International AirportGoaIndia
GOXGoa International Airport (Dabolim)GoaIndia
GYDHeydar Aliyev International AirportBakuAzerbaijan
GVAGeneva AirportGenevaSwitzerland
Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
HYDRajiv Gandhi International AirportHyderabadIndia
HKGHong Kong International AirportHong KongHong Kong SAR
HNDHaneda AirportTokyoJapan
HELHelsinki AirportHelsinkiFinland
Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
IXCChandigarh International AirportChandigarhIndia
IDRDevi Ahilya Bai Holkar AirportIndoreIndia
ISTIstanbul AirportIstanbulTürkiye
ICNIncheon International AirportSeoulSouth Korea
Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
JAIJaipur International AirportJaipurIndia
JFKJohn F. Kennedy International AirportNew YorkUSA
JEDKing Abdulaziz International AirportJeddahSaudi Arabia
Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
KTMTribhuvan International AirportKathmanduNepal
KHIJinnah International AirportKarachiPakistan
KULKuala Lumpur International AirportKuala LumpurMalaysia
Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
LHRHeathrow AirportLondonUnited Kingdom
LGWGatwick AirportLondonUnited Kingdom
LCYLondon City AirportLondonUnited Kingdom
LAXLos Angeles International AirportLos AngelesUSA
LISHumberto Delgado AirportLisbonPortugal
Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
MAAChennai International AirportChennaiIndia
MELMelbourne AirportMelbourneAustralia
MCTMuscat International AirportMuscatOman
MADAdolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas AirportMadridSpain
MANManchester AirportManchesterUnited Kingdom
Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
NRTNarita International AirportTokyoJapan
NGOChubu Centrair International AirportNagoyaJapan
NBOJomo Kenyatta International AirportNairobiKenya
Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
ORDO’Hare International AirportChicagoUSA
OSLOslo AirportOsloNorway
OMAEppley AirfieldOmahaUSA
Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
PNQPune International AirportPuneIndia
PATJay Prakash Narayan AirportPatnaIndia
PEKBeijing Capital International AirportBeijingChina
PERPerth AirportPerthAustralia
PRGVáclav Havel Airport PraguePragueCzech Republic
Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
QUE*Quito (illustrative city code)QuitoEcuador
Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
RGNYangon International AirportYangonMyanmar
RUHKing Khalid International AirportRiyadhSaudi Arabia
RAKMarrakesh Menara AirportMarrakeshMorocco
Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
SINSingapore Changi AirportSingaporeSingapore
SYDSydney Kingsford Smith AirportSydneyAustralia
SFOSan Francisco International AirportSan FranciscoUSA
SEASeattle-Tacoma International AirportSeattleUSA
SHJSharjah International AirportSharjahUAE
SZBSultan Abdul Aziz Shah AirportKuala LumpurMalaysia
Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
TRVTrivandrum International AirportThiruvananthapuramIndia
TRZTiruchirappalli International AirportTiruchirappalliIndia
TPETaiwan Taoyuan International AirportTaipeiTaiwan
TLVBen Gurion AirportTel AvivIsrael
Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
UDRMaharana Pratap AirportUdaipurIndia
UPGSultan Hasanuddin International AirportMakassarIndonesia
Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
VNSLal Bahadur Shastri International AirportVaranasiIndia
VTZVisakhapatnam International AirportVisakhapatnamIndia
VIEVienna International AirportViennaAustria
VCEVenice Marco Polo AirportVeniceItaly
Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
WAWWarsaw Chopin AirportWarsawPoland
WLGWellington International AirportWellingtonNew Zealand

Airport Codes Starting with X

Very few airports have IATA codes beginning with X. Many X-prefixed IATA codes are assigned to railway stations, bus terminals, or special transport facilities instead of airports.

Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
YYZToronto Pearson International AirportTorontoCanada
YVRVancouver International AirportVancouverCanada
YULMontréal–Trudeau International AirportMontrealCanada
YEGEdmonton International AirportEdmontonCanada
Airport CodeAirport NameCityCountry
ZRHZurich AirportZurichSwitzerland
ZAGZagreb AirportZagrebCroatia

Tips to Memorize Airport Codes Quickly

If you’re preparing for a career in air ticketing, airline reservations, or travel management, memorizing airport codes can significantly improve your speed and accuracy. Here are some practical tips:

Learn the Busiest Airports First

Start with major international airports such as:

  • DEL – Delhi
  • BOM – Mumbai
  • DXB – Dubai
  • SIN – Singapore
  • LHR – London Heathrow
  • JFK – New York
  • CDG – Paris
  • FRA – Frankfurt

Practice with GDS Software

Reservation systems like Amadeus, Galileo, and Sabre use airport codes for every booking. Regular practice helps you remember them naturally.

Create Flashcards

Write the airport code on one side and the airport name, city, and country on the other. Review them daily.

Group by Country

Instead of memorizing random codes, learn them country by country. For example:

  • India: DEL, BOM, BLR, HYD, MAA
  • UAE: DXB, AUH, SHJ
  • USA: JFK, LAX, ORD, ATL

Practice Real Booking Routes

Create sample itineraries such as:

  • DEL → DXB → LHR
  • BOM → SIN → SYD
  • HYD → DOH → JFK

This method reflects real-world reservation workflows and reinforces your knowledge.


Why These Airport Codes Matter in the Travel Industry

Every airline ticket, boarding pass, baggage tag, and reservation uses IATA airport codes. Whether you’re working at an airline, airport, travel agency, or online travel company (OTA), you’ll use these codes every day.

Mastering airport codes is one of the foundational skills for anyone pursuing a career in aviation, travel, or air ticketing.


Complete Indian Airport Codes List

India has one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world, with more than 140 operational airports connecting metropolitan cities, state capitals, tourist destinations, and regional locations. Learning Indian airport codes is essential for anyone working in airline reservations, travel agencies, airport operations, or GDS systems.

Below are some of the most commonly used Indian airport codes.

Airport CodeAirport NameCityState
DELIndira Gandhi International AirportNew DelhiDelhi
BOMChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International AirportMumbaiMaharashtra
BLRKempegowda International AirportBengaluruKarnataka
HYDRajiv Gandhi International AirportHyderabadTelangana
MAAChennai International AirportChennaiTamil Nadu
CCUNetaji Subhas Chandra Bose International AirportKolkataWest Bengal
AMDSardar Vallabhbhai Patel International AirportAhmedabadGujarat
COKCochin International AirportKochiKerala
GOXManohar International AirportNorth GoaGoa
GOIGoa International Airport (Dabolim)South GoaGoa
PNQPune International AirportPuneMaharashtra
JAIJaipur International AirportJaipurRajasthan
LKOChaudhary Charan Singh International AirportLucknowUttar Pradesh
IXCChandigarh International AirportChandigarhChandigarh
VNSLal Bahadur Shastri International AirportVaranasiUttar Pradesh
PATJay Prakash Narayan AirportPatnaBihar
ATQSri Guru Ram Dass Jee International AirportAmritsarPunjab
BBIBiju Patnaik International AirportBhubaneswarOdisha
IDRDevi Ahilya Bai Holkar AirportIndoreMadhya Pradesh
NAGDr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International AirportNagpurMaharashtra
TRVTrivandrum International AirportThiruvananthapuramKerala
TRZTiruchirappalli International AirportTiruchirappalliTamil Nadu
VTZVisakhapatnam International AirportVisakhapatnamAndhra Pradesh
UDRMaharana Pratap AirportUdaipurRajasthan
IXBBagdogra AirportSiliguriWest Bengal
GAYGaya AirportGayaBihar
RPRSwami Vivekananda AirportRaipurChhattisgarh
IMFImphal International AirportImphalManipur
DIBDibrugarh AirportDibrugarhAssam
GAULokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International AirportGuwahatiAssam

Top Airport Codes Every Air Ticketing Professional Should Know

If you’re planning an aviation career, these are the airport codes you’ll encounter frequently.

India

  • DEL – Delhi
  • BOM – Mumbai
  • BLR – Bengaluru
  • HYD – Hyderabad
  • MAA – Chennai
  • CCU – Kolkata

Middle East

  • DXB – Dubai
  • AUH – Abu Dhabi
  • DOH – Doha
  • MCT – Muscat
  • JED – Jeddah
  • RUH – Riyadh

Europe

  • LHR – London Heathrow
  • CDG – Paris Charles de Gaulle
  • FRA – Frankfurt
  • AMS – Amsterdam
  • MAD – Madrid

North America

  • JFK – New York
  • LAX – Los Angeles
  • ORD – Chicago
  • YYZ – Toronto
  • YVR – Vancouver

Asia-Pacific

  • SIN – Singapore
  • HKG – Hong Kong
  • BKK – Bangkok
  • KUL – Kuala Lumpur
  • NRT – Tokyo Narita
  • HND – Tokyo Haneda
  • ICN – Seoul Incheon
  • SYD – Sydney

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is an airport code?

An airport code is a unique identifier assigned to an airport. Airlines, airports, and travel agencies use these codes for ticketing, reservations, baggage handling, and flight operations.

Who assigns airport codes?

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) assigns three-letter airport codes, while the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) assigns four-letter airport codes used in flight operations.

What is the IATA code for Delhi Airport?

The IATA code for Indira Gandhi International Airport is DEL.

What is the airport code for Mumbai?

The IATA code for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is BOM.

What is the airport code for Dubai?

Dubai International Airport uses the IATA code DXB.

What is the difference between IATA and ICAO codes?

IATA codes are three-letter identifiers used by passengers, airlines, and travel agencies. ICAO codes are four-letter identifiers used by pilots, air traffic controllers, and aviation authorities.

Why do travel agents use airport codes?

Airport codes make reservations faster, reduce booking errors, and are required in GDS systems such as Amadeus, Galileo, and Sabre.


Conclusion

Airport codes are much more than simple abbreviations; they are the universal language of the aviation industry. Every airline reservation, e-ticket, baggage tag, flight schedule, and boarding pass relies on these standardized identifiers.

Whether you aspire to become an Air Ticketing Executive, Reservation Officer, Travel Consultant, or Airline Customer Service Professional, mastering airport codes is a foundational skill that will boost your confidence and efficiency.

By learning the most commonly used IATA airport codes and understanding their role in airline operations, you’ll be better prepared for professional training, job interviews, and real-world travel industry responsibilities.


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Author

Air Grace Aviation Academy

Air Grace Aviation Academy is the Travel and Tourism, Air Ticketing, Travel Management, Holiday Packages, Visa Management, Air Hostess, Hospitality Training Institute in Delhi/NCR.

The courses offered are listed below:

Advance/Diploma in Travel and Tourism Management
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Air Ticketing Management
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Travel Management
Amadeus, Galileo, SABRE GDS

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