However, nobody bothered to change the original 'Orchard' code designation of ORD.Įver wonder why Orlando has the code of MCO? Hint: before it was the gateway to theme parks, it was McCoy Air Force Base. In the 1940's, it became the site of a military (and later, commercial) airport called Orchard Field, which was renamed for WW II ace Edward Henry 'Butch' O'Hare, in 1949. A few years back, he wrote an excellent explanation piece for the Airline Pilots Association journal that tells the story of a now defunct community just west of Chicago called Orchard Place. When they did, some airports simply added an 'X' to their name, and that's why you have LAX or PHX for Phoenix.īut how to explain Chicago O'Hare's ORD? For that I turned to the Sky God - pilot Dave English. History of Airport Codesīut what about, say, LAX - where did that 'X' come from? It goes back to the early days of passenger air travel when airports simply used the same two letter codes that the National Weather Service used for cities, never dreaming they'd ever need more letters for more combinations. The assignment of these codes is administered by the Montreal-based International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the codes cover locations (mainly airports) around the globe.Ī lot of these codes are no brainers: LGA stands for LaGuardia in New York, HOU is for Houston's Hobby Airport and SLC is for Salt Lake City. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Mich. (and from what I understand, the locals aren't crazy about it) and while GRR may sound like an anger management therapy center, it's actually the code for Gerald R. Like FAT and GRR.įor more air travel news and insights visit Rick's blog at: įirst things first: FAT is the airport code for Fresno, Calif.

Then there's Rotorua, New Zealand ROT while Louisiana's Barksdale Air Force Base is just plain BAD.Įver wonder how these codes came into being and what they mean? I'm going to tell you, plus I'll give more examples of truly weird ones. It appears a kindergartner might have had a hand in picking some of these airport codes: Russia's Bolshoye Savino Airport is stuck with the unlovely designation PEE, while Brazil's Poco De Caldas Airport has to live with POO. Luckily, residents there have a sense of humor instead of bemoaning their unfortunate appellation, they celebrate it: the airport's website sells souvenirs including t-shirts and caps emblazoned with the bold SUX logo.

Yes, SUX - the airport code for Sioux City, Iowa. 22, 2010 — - Most of you fliers out there are familiar with JFK, LAX and DFW - the airport codes for New York's Kennedy, Los Angeles International and Dallas-Ft.

Iata city codes