trip gain

Airport Code

What is an Airport Code?

An airport code is an essential identifier used in flight bookings, ticketing, and baggage handling. The IATA airport code (three letters, e.g., JFK for John F. Kennedy International Airport) is widely used by airlines and passengers, while the ICAO airport code (four letters, e.g., KJFK for John F. Kennedy International Airport) is mainly for air traffic control and aviation operations.

Corporate travel relies heavily on airport codes for efficient flight reservations and itinerary management. When booking flights, travelers and travel management systems use IATA codes to avoid confusion between similarly named airports in different cities or countries.

Airport codes also play a crucial role in corporate travel expense tracking. Many business travel platforms and expense management tools automatically associate flight costs with specific airport codes, helping companies analyze travel spending by destination.


 

Examples of Airport Codes in Corporate Travel & Expense
1.
Flight Booking: A corporate travel manager books a flight from LHR (London Heathrow Airport) to LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) using IATA codes.
2.
Expense Reporting: A company's finance team reviews travel expense reports, identifying airfare costs based on airport codes.
3.
Multi-City Business Travel: A business traveler plans a trip across multiple destinations, using airport codes to optimize layovers and connections.
Frequently Asked Questions About Airport Code
1.
What is the difference between IATA and ICAO airport codes?
IATA codes (three letters) are used for ticketing and travel, while ICAO codes (four letters) are used for air traffic control and operations.
2.
How are airport codes assigned?
IATA assigns codes based on airport names or locations, while ICAO follows a country-based naming convention.
3.
Can two airports have the same IATA code?
No, each IATA airport code is unique to prevent confusion in flight bookings and travel itineraries.
4.
Why do some airport codes seem unrelated to the city name?
Some codes are based on historical names or previous airport designations, like ORD for Chicago O’Hare (formerly Orchard Field).
5.
How can corporate travel managers use airport codes?
Airport codes help streamline flight bookings, track travel expenses, and optimize business travel routes.