AirportCodesCódigos IATA vs ICAO: La guía definitiva
Última actualización: 28 de June de 2026 · Por el equipo AirportCodesDB
Two coding systems identify airports globally: IATA (3 letters) and ICAO (4 letters). Here's everything you need to know about the differences.
📊 Quick Comparison
| Feature | IATA Code | ICAO Code |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 3 letters | 4 letters |
| Assigned by | International Air Transport Association | International Civil Aviation Organization |
| Used by | Airlines, passengers, booking systems | Pilots, ATC, flight plans |
| Where you see it | Boarding passes, baggage tags, tickets | Flight plans, NOTAMs, weather reports |
| Example (New York) | JFK | KJFK |
| Example (London) | LHR | EGLL |
| Example (Tokyo) | NRT | RJAA |
| Total codes | ~11,000 | ~12,000+ |
🔤 How IATA Codes Work
IATA codes are three-letter identifiers assigned by the International Air Transport Association, primarily for commercial aviation. They appear on your boarding pass, luggage tags, and booking confirmations.
- Most are abbreviations of the airport or city name: ATL (Atlanta), CDG (Charles de Gaulle)
- Some preserve old names: ORD (Orchard Field → now O'Hare)
- Applied for through IATA's Airport Coding Directory (~$400 USD fee)
🌐 How ICAO Codes Work
ICAO codes are four-letter identifiers used in aviation operations — flight plans, air traffic control communications, and weather reports (METARs).
The first letter indicates the region:
| Prefix | Region | Example |
|---|---|---|
| K | Continental United States | KJFK, KLAX, KORD |
| C | Canada | CYYZ (Toronto), CYVR (Vancouver) |
| E | Northern Europe | EGLL (Heathrow), EHAM (Amsterdam) |
| L | Southern Europe | LFPG (Paris CDG), LEMD (Madrid) |
| R | East Asia | RJAA (Narita), RKSI (Incheon) |
| O | Middle East | OMDB (Dubai), OEJN (Jeddah) |
| W | Southeast Asia | WSSS (Singapore), VTBS (Bangkok) |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Do all airports have both codes?
Not always. Some small airports have only an ICAO code. Very few have only an IATA code. Major commercial airports always have both.
Which code should I use when booking flights?
Always use the IATA code (3 letters). That's what airline booking systems, Google Flights, and travel websites use.
Can IATA codes change?
Technically yes, but it's extremely rare and expensive. When Mumbai changed its name from Bombay, the code BOM remained unchanged. Changing a code requires updating thousands of airline and booking systems worldwide.