The official name for the three-letter airport code is the IATA Location Identifier (or IATA Station Code). These codes are managed and assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a trade association of the world’s airlines. The purpose of these codes is to provide a unique, standardized way to identify airports, cities, and metropolitan areas globally for use in flight reservations, ticketing, and baggage handling. For example, "LHR" identifies London Heathrow, while "LAX" identifies Los Angeles International. While most travelers are familiar with the three-letter IATA codes, pilots and air traffic controllers often use a different system called ICAO codes, which are four letters long (e.g., KLAX for Los Angeles). IATA codes are designed to be easy for passengers to recognize and are printed on every luggage tag and boarding pass. Interestingly, some cities have a "metropolitan" code that covers multiple airports, such as "NYC," which encompasses JFK, EWR, and LGA in travel booking systems.