With the unfortunate news of the GermanWings crash, I wanted to keep it light and fun this week. Airport codes can be a funny thing and sometimes leave you wondering how they are created. There are two types of Airport Codes: IATA and ICAO.
IATA stand for the International Air Transport Association which is a trade association of the world’s airlines. These 250 airlines, primarily major carriers, carry approximately 84% of total Available Seat Kilometers air traffic. IATA supports airline activity and helps formulate industry policy and standards. It is headquartered in Montreal, Canada with Executive Offices in Geneva, Switzerland.
ICAO stands for International Civil Aviation Organization it is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. Its headquarters are located in the Quartier International of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
In North American we mainly follow the IATA code, so that is what I will be basing my list off of. The following codes make me think of something funny, make me laugh or incite puzzlement. Many of these codes you will be able to find on the tripchi app, make sure to sign up for the beta.
BOS Boston Logan International Airport – My home airport and not exactly hilarious but it always makes me think of the SNL skit with Andy Sandberg and Seth Rogan “Like a BOSS”. Its pretty funny and very inappropriate, so fair warning don’t watch if you are under 18.
SIN Changi International Airport – One of the worlds best airports has one of the least appealing codes. It’s certainly no sin to visit Changi and not a lot of sinning goes on in Singapore due to the strict laws. Make sure to check out my
Top 10 Things to do at Changi Airport blog for more details.
SUX Sioux Gateway Airport – Tough name! I have never been to Iowa but I am sure it doesn’t suck. The city even petitioned to change the code but to no effect. Sioux City is a reasonably small airport but for you aviation historians you will know it well. On July 19, 1989,
United Airlines Flight 232 a DC-10 crashed landed at SUX killing 111 while 174 survived. The skill of the flight crew was credited with saving many of the occupants and the crash was caught on videotape by a news crew.
DOH Hamad International Airport – I have never been to Doha, Qatar but I imagine it to be a very shiny city. The airport code always reminds me of Homer Simpson saying “DOH”. I am sure the airport has more class than Mr. Simpson does.
EAT Pangborn Memorial Airport – Located in beautiful Wenatchee, Washington EAT is mostly a general aviation airport but does have an Alaskan Airlines flight to SEA (should I add Seattle to the list?). If you do decide to eat at EAT, the area is famous for its apples.
RAT Raduzhny Airport – Is an airport in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia. It’s a very unfortunate name but to date there has been no report of rodents on their runways.
ACK Nantucket Memorial Airport – Look out for the Plane!! If you are familiar with Bill the Cat then you will enjoy this airport code.
Here are some of my other mostly crude favorites:
DIK – Dickinson Airport, USA
NOB – Nosara Beach Airport, Costa Rica
KOK – Kokkola/Pietarsaari Kruunupyy Airport, Finland
BUM – Butler Airport, USA
PEE – Perm Airport, Russia
POO – Pocos De Caldas Airport, Brazil
SEX – Sembach Airport, Germany
FAT – Fresno Yosemite Airport, USA
What airport codes make you laugh? Be sure to share them in the comments sections and as always let tripchi be your guide the next time you go to the airport. Travel On!
