An IATA airport code, also known as an IATA location identifier, IATA station code, or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter geocode designating many airports and metropolitan areas around the world, defined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Yes, the three-letter airport code is the global standard for identifying airports and is known as the IATA (International Air Transport Association) code. These codes are used on every boarding pass, luggage tag, and flight schedule in the world to ensure there is no confusion between locations. Most codes are intuitive and based on the city's name, such as LAX for Los Angeles, JFK for New York, or LHR for London Heathrow. However, some are historical or based on old airport names, such as ORD for Chicago O'Hare (from its former name, Orchard Field) or MCO for Orlando (from McCoy Air Force Base). In Canada, almost all major airport codes start with a 'Y', such as YYZ for Toronto. There are thousands of these codes in use today, and they are critical for the automated baggage sorting systems that handle billions of bags each year. While there are also four-letter "ICAO" codes used primarily by pilots and air traffic controllers for technical flight planning (e.g., KLAX for Los Angeles), the three-letter IATA code remains the most recognized "language" of travel for the general public in 2026.