IATA Airport & City Codes – India
IATA Airport & City Codes – India: In the world of aviation and travel, everything moves fast. Imagine booking a flight, issuing a ticket, or locating an airport—without a standardized system of codes, it would be chaos. That’s where IATA Airport and City Codes come in!
Let’s dive into what they are, why they matter—especially in India—and who needs to know them.
Who Sets the Codes for Airports and Cities Worldwide?
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is the global body that assigns three-letter codes to airports and cities around the world. These codes are used by airlines, travel agents, and global distribution systems (GDS) to ensure seamless communication, booking, and operations.
For example:
- DEL = Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi
- BOM = Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai
- MAA = Chennai International Airport, Chennai
IATA Airport & City Codes – India – Why Are These IATA Codes Important?
IATA codes may seem small, but they’re hugely important in the aviation, tourism, travel, GDS, and air ticketing industries—especially in a diverse and fast-growing market like India. Here’s why:
Firstly, these codes ensure seamless communication across airlines, agencies, and booking platforms. Furthermore, they streamline operations by standardizing airport and city references worldwide. In addition, they facilitate accurate fare calculations and efficient reservation management.
Moreover, IATA codes play a critical role in global data exchange systems, such as Amadeus and Galileo. Finally, mastering these codes not only simplifies daily workflows but also significantly enhances career prospects, enabling professionals to navigate India’s dynamic travel landscape with confidence.
✅ Standardisation: Ensures everyone speaks the same “language” in travel—across countries, platforms, and software systems.
Accuracy in Ticketing ✅: Prevents costly errors in flight bookings and ticket issuance.
✅ Speed in Booking: Helps travel professionals quickly find and select destinations and flights.
Data Efficiency ✅: Makes it easier for GDS (like Amadeus, Galileo, and Sabre) to store and retrieve information.
✅ International Travel Clarity: Helps international travelers identify Indian cities and airports at a glance.
What Is the Usage of These Codes?
IATA codes are used everywhere in the travel process:
Flight Booking & Reservations
Air Ticket Issuance
Itineraries and Travel Vouchers
Global Distribution Systems (GDS)
Baggage Tags and Routing
Airport Display Systems and Announcements
For example, a flight ticket may say:DEL – BOM
meaning Delhi to Mumbai.
How to Learn These Codes?
When you follow the right approach, learning IATA codes can be not only easy but also genuinely fun:
Start With Major Airports – Focus on metro cities first: DEL, BOM, BLR, HYD, MAA, etc.
Use Flashcards or Apps – Many mobile apps and websites offer IATA code quizzes.
Practice with Maps – Visual learning helps retain memory better.
Group by Region or State – Learn airport codes region-wise (North, South, East, West India).
Enroll in Travel & Tourism Courses – Professional training institutes like Air Grace Aviation Academy offer structured lessons with practical GDS software training.
Who Should Be Aware of These Codes and Why?
Nevertheless, if you dream of working in the travel, tourism, or aviation sector, IATA codes are your daily language. Here’s who must know them:
Air Ticketing Executives
Cabin Crew & Ground Staff
Travel Agents & Tour Operators
Hospitality and Travel Desk Staff
Airport Operations and GDS Professionals
Students in Aviation & Tourism Courses
Why? Using these codes accurately boosts professionalism, avoids booking mistakes, and enhances confidence while dealing with clients or using GDS software.
Final Thoughts
IATA Airport and City Codes are more than just combinations of three letters—indeed, they’re the backbone of the modern travel industry. Additionally, whether you’re working behind the scenes in ticketing or guiding travelers face-to-face, mastering these codes is undeniably crucial for success in India’s booming aviation and tourism market.
Want to learn IATA Codes professionally?
Join our Diploma in Air Ticketing & GDS course at Air Grace Aviation Academy and get hands-on training with real GDS software like Amadeus, Galileo, and Sabre!
Quick Example of Major Airports in India – ✍️
City | Airport Name | IATA Code |
---|---|---|
Delhi | Indira Gandhi International Airport | DEL |
Mumbai | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport | BOM |
Bengaluru | Kempegowda International Airport | BLR |
Hyderabad | Rajiv Gandhi International Airport | HYD |
Chennai | Chennai International Airport | MAA |
Kolkata | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport | CCU |
Goa | Goa International Airport (Dabolim) | GOI |
IATA Airport & City Codes – India:
IATA Airport & City Codes in India – Complete List
Below is a comprehensive table of Indian cities with their respective IATA airport codes. These codes are essential for air ticketing, travel planning, and GDSs like Amadeus, Galileo, SABRE, Worldspan and Apollo usage.
S. No. | IATA Code | City Name | State/UT |
---|---|---|---|
1 | IXA | Agartala | Tripura |
2 | IXD | Allahabad | Uttar Pradesh |
3 | IXU | Aurangabad | Maharashtra |
4 | IXB | Bagdogra | West Bengal |
5 | BEK | Bareli | Uttar Pradesh |
6 | IXG | Belgaum | Karnataka |
7 | BEP | Bellary | Karnataka |
8 | BLR | Bengaluru | Karnataka |
9 | BHU | Bhavnagar | Gujarat |
10 | BHO | Bhopal | Madhya Pradesh |
11 | BBI | Bhubaneswar | Odisha |
12 | BHJ | Bhuj | Gujarat |
13 | KUU | Bhuntar | Himachal Pradesh |
14 | BKB | Bikaner | Rajasthan |
15 | IXC | Chandigarh | Chandigarh UT |
16 | MAA | Chennai | Tamil Nadu |
17 | COK | Cochin | Kerala |
18 | CJB | Coimbatore | Tamil Nadu |
19 | DED | Dehra Dun | Uttarakhand |
20 | DEL | Delhi | New Delhi |
21 | DBD | Dhanbad | Jharkhand |
22 | DHM | Dharamshala | Himachal Pradesh |
23 | DIB | Dibrugarh | Assam |
24 | DMU | Dimapur | Nagaland |
25 | GAY | Gaya | Bihar |
26 | GOI | Goa | Goa |
27 | GOP | Gorakhpur | Uttar Pradesh |
28 | GAU | Guwahati | Assam |
29 | GWL | Gwalior | Madhya Pradesh |
30 | HBX | Hubli | Karnataka |
31 | HYD | Hyderabad | Telangana |
32 | IMF | Imphal | Manipur |
33 | IDR | Indore | Madhya Pradesh |
34 | JLR | Jabalpur | Madhya Pradesh |
35 | JAI | Jaipur | Rajasthan |
36 | JSA | Jaisalmer | Rajasthan |
37 | IXJ | Jammu | Jammu and Kashmir |
38 | JGA | Jamnagar | Gujarat |
39 | IXW | Jamshedpur | Jharkhand |
40 | JDH | Jodhpur | Rajasthan |
41 | JRH | Jorhat | Assam |
42 | KNU | Kanpur | Uttar Pradesh |
43 | IXK | Keshod | Gujarat |
44 | HJR | Khajuraho | Madhya Pradesh |
45 | CCU | Kolkata | West Bengal |
46 | KTU | Kota | Rajasthan |
47 | CCJ | Kozhikode | Kerala |
48 | IXL | Leh | Jammu and Kashmir |
49 | IXI | Lilabari | Assam |
50 | LKO | Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh |
51 | IXM | Madurai | Tamil Nadu |
52 | IXE | Mangalore | Karnataka |
53 | BOM | Mumbai | Maharashtra |
54 | MZU | Muzaffarpur | Bihar |
55 | MYQ | Mysore | Karnataka |
56 | NAG | Nagpur | Maharashtra |
57 | PGH | Pant Nagar | Uttarakhand |
58 | IXP | Pathankot | Punjab |
59 | PAT | Patna | Bihar |
60 | IXZ | Port Blair | Andaman |
61 | PNQ | Pune | Maharashtra |
62 | PUT | Puttaparthi | Andhra Pradesh |
63 | RPR | Raipur | Chhattisgarh |
64 | RJA | Rajahmundry | Andhra Pradesh |
65 | RAJ | Rajkot | Gujarat |
66 | IXR | Ranchi | Jharkhand |
67 | SHL | Shillong | Meghalaya |
68 | SSE | Sholapur | Maharashtra |
69 | IXS | Silchar | Assam |
70 | SLV | Shimla | Himachal Pradesh |
71 | SXR | Srinagar | Jammu and Kashmir |
72 | STV | Surat | Gujarat |
73 | TEZ | Tezpur | Assam |
74 | TRV | Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala |
75 | TRZ | Tiruchirappalli | Tamil Nadu |
76 | TIR | Tirupati | Andhra Pradesh |
77 | UDR | Udaipur | Rajasthan |
78 | BDQ | Vadodara | Gujarat |
79 | VNS | Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh |
80 | VGA | Vijayawada | Andhra Pradesh |
81 | VTZ | Vishakhapatnam | Andhra Pradesh |
82 | TCR | Tuticorin | Tamil Nadu |
Additionally, apart from those IATA codes mentioned above, if we have overlooked any existing or upcoming codes, please feel free to mention them in the comment box below. We would be more than happy to include them in the list above.