IATA Airport Codes for UK Airports
Written by Kate GoldstoneAbout UK IATA Airport Codes
If you’ve ever wondered what the three letter airport codes that appear on your pre-printed luggage labels are all about, here’s a run-down about everything to do with IATA airport codes.
IATA – International Air Transport Association
What are IATA airport codes and why do we need them?
IATA is the International Air Transport Association, the international airline industry’s trade association. The modern IATA is the successor to the International Air Traffic Association, founded in The Hague in 1919 when the world’s first international scheduled services were created. The modern iteration of the organisation was founded in Havana, Cuba, back in 1945, tasked with encouraging and facilitating inter-airline cooperation to benefit increasing numbers of air travel consumers.
In 1945 IATA already had 57 members from 31 nations, mostly across the EU and USA. Now it boasts more than 250 members from 118 countries, mainly major carriers who, in total, handle around 84% of the planet’s air traffic. The international scheduled air transport industry has also grown beyond all recognition since 1945. Now it’s at least 100 times bigger, partly thanks to IATA.
Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, IATA helps formulate air travel industry policy and standards. It also has offices in Geneva, Switzerland plus 60 or so others in 60 countries. It sees itself as a powerful force for ‘value creation and innovation’, helping maintain a safe, secure and profitable air transport industry which connects and enriches our world in a sustainable fashion.
The organisation represents, leads and serves the airline industry. It’s their job to improve public and commercial understanding of the sector, increasing awareness of the benefits of aviation in today’s global economy. They stand firm on the sector’s behalf, challenging ‘unreasonable’ rules and charges, holding both governments and airline regulators to account and insisting on common sense regulation. And they’ve been doing it for almost 70 years.
In short IATA helps airlines do their job safely, securely, efficiently and economically under clearly defined rules, delivering professional support to every stakeholder via a huge range of services and products.
IATA Airports
About IATA codes for airports
Today IATA codes are an integral element of the travel industry, essential for identifying airlines, their destinations and official traffic documents.
IATA publishes an updated list of airport codes twice a year in the IATA Airline Coding Directory. IATA codes are basically abbreviations made up of 3 letters, each identifying a specific airport. Also called the IATA location identifier, IATA station code or location identifier, they’re also displayed prominently on the luggage tags attached at the airport check-in desk, to help make sure your stuff arrives at the right destination.
But there’s more… it’s a travel thing. As well as codes to identify airports across the world, IATA also produces codes for railway stations agreed between the major airlines and big public transport companies like SNCF French Rail and Deutsche Bahn.
IATA history
Airport codes were first invented to help pilots identify specific airports. In the 1930s when aviation was in its infancy, a sport for the wealthy that ordinary people rarely if ever experienced, pilots in the United States used a 2 letter code provided by the US National Weather Service to identify cities. The original system soon became unworkable because not all towns and cities had an NWS code. So today’s 3 letter system was brought in, allowing an impressive total of 17,576 permutations.
IATA Codes in use
Interesting IATA airport code facts
- Many airport codes are named after the first 3 letters of the city in which – or near which – the airport is located. SIN for Singapore, MEX for Mexico City and so on.
- When this isn’t possible or it would create a duplicate code, they use a combination of the letters in the nearest city’s name, for example GDL for Guadalajara and HKG for Hong Kong.
- Just to keep matters interesting, some US airports held onto their old NWS codes and simply added an X on the end, giving us codes like LAX for Los Angeles in California and PHX for Phoenix in Arizona.
- Having said all that, some airport codes don’t fit any of these protocols. Some cross municipal and other kinds of boundaries, which results in mixed up codes like DFW for Dallas Fort Worth and LBA for Britain’s popular regional hub, Leeds Bradford airport.
- What happens if two cities with the same name each have their own airport? Here’s an example. Take Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport, coded SJC. It’s in San Jose, California, but the very similar Juan Santamaría International Airport, coded SJO, denotes San José in Costa Rica.
- Some places, for instance Washington D.C, have more than one airport. Washington has three and they’ve all been given very different codes: IAD means Washington-Dulles airport. DCA denotes the Reagan National, AKA the District of Columbia Airport. And BWI is assigned to Baltimore Washington International airport.
- Some airport codes are based on the airport’s original name, not the new one. Take Chicago O’Hare, coded ORD because it’s original name, during the 1950s, was Orchard Field airport.
- A handful of airport codes are so well known they’re used instead of the airport’s full name. A good example is LAX, a name that’s much more popular than ‘Los Angeles Airport’.
- Many airports in Canada put a Y in front of their airport codes although, confusingly, not every Y code is Canadian.
- A lot of airports in New Zealand have codes including the letter Z, to differentiate them from other airports overseas with the same names. An example? There’s HLZ for Hamilton and WSZ for Westport.
List of IATA airport codes for UK airports
The airport codes for Britain’s top 10 airports are:
- London Heathrow – LHR
- London Gatwick – LGW
- Manchester – MAN
- Stansted – STN
- Birmingham International Airport – BHX
- Glasgow International – GLA
- Edinburgh – EDI
- London Luton – LTN
- Aldergrove International Airport, Belfast – BFS
- Bristol – BRS
There are 24 commercial international airports in Britain plus countless domestic and private airfields. Here’s a list of IATA airport codes for all of the UK’s airports.
| City name | IATA Airport Code | Airport Name | Country name | Country Abbrev. | World Area Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | ABZ | Dyce | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Abingdon | ABB | RAF Station | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Alconbury | AYH | RAF Station | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Alderney | ACI | The Blaye | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Andover | ADV | Andover | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Bally Kelly | BOL | Bally Kelly | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Barra | BRR | North Bay | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Barrow-In-Furness | BWF | Walney Island | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Belfast | BHD | Belfast City Airport | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Belfast | BFS | Belfast Aldergrove International | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Bembridge | BBP | Bembridge | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Benbecula | BEB | Benbecula | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Benson | BEX | RAF Station | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Birmingham | ZBC | Colmore Row Bus Stn | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Birmingham | BHX | Birmingham International | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Yateley | BBS | Blackbushe | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Blackpool | BLK | Blackpool | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Bournemouth | BOH | Bournemouth International | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Bradford | BRF | Bradford | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Bradford | ZFC | Bus Station | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Braintree | WXF | Wether Fld RAF | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Brandon | LKZ | Lakenheath RAF | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Brighton | BSH | Brighton | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Bristol | BRS | Bristol | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Britrail Rail Zone S | QQS | London St. Pancras | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Brize Norton | BZZ | Raf Station | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Burtonwood | BUT | Burtonwood | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Bury St Edmunds | BEQ | Honington | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Cambridge | CBG | Cambridge | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Campbeltown | CAL | Machrihanish | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Cardiff | CWL | Cardiff-wales Arpt | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Carlisle | CAX | Carlisle | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Chester | CEG | Chester | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Isle Of Coll | COL | Isle Of Coll | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Isle Of Colonsay | CSA | Isle Of Colonsay | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Coventry | CVT | Coventry – West Midlands International Airport | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Cromarty | CRN | Cromarty | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Dewsbury | ZEQ | Bus Station | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Doncaster | DSA | Robin Hood International | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Dornoch | DOC | Dornoch | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Dundee | DND | Dundee | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Dundee | ZDU | ScotRail | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Durham Tees Valley | MME | Durham Tees Valley | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Eday | EOI | Eday | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Edinburgh | EDI | Turnhouse | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Edinburgh | ZXE | ScotRail | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Enniskillen | ENK | Enniskillen | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Exeter | EXT | Exeter | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Fair Isle | FIE | Fair Isle | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Fairford | FFD | RAF Station | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Fakenham | FKH | Sculthorp RAF | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Farnborough | FAB | Farnborough | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Fetlar | FEA | Fetlar | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Filton | FZO | Filton | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Flotta | FLH | Flotta | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Forres | FSS | Kinloss | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Fort William | FWM | Heliport | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Foula | FOA | Foula | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Glasgow | GLA | Glasgow International | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Glasgow | PIK | Prestwick | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Glasgow | ZGG | ScotRail | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Gloucester | GLO | Gloucestershire | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Grimsby | GSY | Binbrook | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Guernsey | GCI | Guernsey | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Hammersmith | WUK | Off Line Point | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Harrogate | HRT | Linton-On-Ouse | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Hatfield | HTF | Hatfield | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Haverfordwest | HAW | Haverfordwest | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Hendon | HEN | Hendon | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| High Wycombe | HYC | High Wycombe | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Holyhead | HLY | Holyhead | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Hoy Island | HOY | Hoy Island | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Humberside | HUY | Humberside Arpt | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Inverness | INV | Inverness | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Inverness | ZIV | ScotRail | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Ipswich | IPW | Ipswich (Closed) | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Islay | ILY | Glenegedale | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Isle Of Man | IOM | Ronaldsway | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Isle Of Skye | SKL | Broadford | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Isles Of Scilly | ISC | St Marys | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Isles Of Scilly | TSO | Tresco | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Jersey | JER | States | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Kings Lynn | KNF | Marham RAF | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Lands End | LEQ | Lands End | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Leeds | LBA | Leeds/Bradford | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Liverpool | LPL | Liverpool John Lennon (Speke) | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Lochgilphead | LPH | Heliport | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Biggin Hill | BQH | Biggin Hill | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| London | ZLX | British Rail Terminal | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| London | LGW | Gatwick | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| London | LHR | Heathrow | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| London | LCY | London City Airport | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| London | QQW | London-Waterloo | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| London | LTN | Luton Airport | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| London | STN | Stansted | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| London | ZEP | Victoria Railway Stn. | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Londonderry | LDY | Eglinton (City Of Londonderry) | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Lossiemouth | LMO | RAF Station | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Lyneham | LYE | RAF Station | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Machrihanish | GQJ | RAF Station | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Manchester | MAN | Manchester | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Manchester | ZMP | Manchester Bus Stn. | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Manston | MSE | Kent International | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Mildenhall | MHZ | Mildenhall Arpt | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Mildenhall | GXH | NAF | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Milton Keynes | KYN | Milton Keynes | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Mull | ULL | Mull | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Newbury | EWY | Greenham RAF | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Newcastle | NCL | Newcastle Airport | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Newquay | NQY | St Mawgan | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| North Ronaldsay | NRL | North Ronaldsay | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Northampton | ORM | Northampton | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Northolt | NHT | Northolt | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Norwich | NWI | Norwich Arpt | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Nottingham | NQT | Nottingham Airport | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Nottingham | EMA | Nottingham E. Midlands | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Nottingham | XQI | Railway Station | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Nottingham | XQH | Railway Station | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Oakham | OKH | Cottesmor RAF | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Oban | OBN | Oban Airport | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Oban | OHP | Heliport | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Odiham | ODH | RAF Station | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Orkney Island | KOI | Orkney Island | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Outer Skerries | OUK | Outer Skerries | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Oxford | OXF | Kidlington | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Papa Stour | PSV | Papa Stour | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Papa Westray | PPW | Papa Westray | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Penzance | PZE | Penzance | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Perth | PSL | Perth | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Perth | ZXP | ScotRail | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Plymouth | PLH | Plymouth | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Portsmouth | PME | Portsmouth | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Rochester | RCS | Rochester | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Rothesay | RAY | Heliport | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Sanday | NDY | Sanday | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Scampton | SQZ | RAF Station | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Sheffield | SZD | Sheffield City Airport | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Shetland Islands | LWK | Lerwick/Tingwall | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Shetland Islands | SCS | Scatsta | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Shetland Islands | LSI | Sumburgh | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Shoreham By Sea | ESH | Shoreham | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Southampton | SOU | Eastleigh | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Southend | SEN | London Southend | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| St Andrews | ADX | Leuchars | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Stornoway | SYY | Stornoway | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Stronsay | SOY | Stronsay | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Suttonheath | WOB | Woodbridge RAF | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Swansea | SWS | Fairwood Comm | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Swindon | SWI | Swindon | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Swindon | XWS | Railway Station | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Tiree | TRE | Tiree | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Unst Shetland Is | UNT | Baltasound | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Upavon | UPV | Upavon | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Upper Heyford | UHF | RAF Station | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Waddington | WTN | RAF Station | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| West Malling | WEM | West Malling | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Westray | WRY | Westray | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Whalsay | WHS | Whalsay | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Wick | WIC | Wick | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Woodbridge | BWY | Bentwaters St | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Woodford | WFD | Woodford | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
| Yeovilton | YEO | Yeovilton | United Kingdom | GB | 493 |
For more information on IATA airport codes you should take a look at Wikipedia.
Funny IATA airport codes
The clever people at Skyscanner have worked their way through an impressive 10,000 international airport codes to find the silliest, rudest and funniest. Here’s a selection of our favourites. You can see the entire list of funny IATA airport codes here.
- Turkey – Batman Airport – code BAL
- Mongolia – Moron Airport – code MXV
- Russia – Perm Airport – code PEE
- USA – Eek Airport – code EEK
- Australia – Wee Waa Airport – code WEW
- Cook Islands – Puka Puka Airport – code PZK
- Tanzania – Mafia Airport – code MFA
- Canada – Deception Airport – code YGY
- USA – Deadhorse Airport – code SCC
- USA – Danger Bay Airport – code DGB
- USA – Atlanta Beaver Ruin Airport – code JAO
- Costa Rica – Nob Airport – code NOB
- Brazil – Pocos De Caldos airport – code POO
- Qatar – Doha Airport – code DOH
Any questions?
If you have any questions about airport codes, leave a comment and we’ll do our best to give you an answer.
Tags: IATA airport codes, IATA codes, IATA codes for airports, IATA codes for UK airports, UK IATA codes
