Every airport in the world has a three-letter IATA code printed on your boarding pass and luggage tags. Some are obvious — LAX for Los Angeles, SFO for San Francisco. But many of the world's busiest airports have codes that seem to have no logical connection to their city names. Why is Chicago's main airport ORD? What does CDG stand for in Paris? And why on earth is the code for Montreal's airport YUL?
The stories behind airport codes are fascinating windows into aviation history, geography, and language. Some codes are inherited from old weather station identifiers. Others reference the airport's official name rather than the city. Canadian airports all start with Y for historical reasons related to weather reporting. And some codes are simply the result of all the obvious combinations being taken.
This quiz tests your knowledge of airport codes from around the world, ranging from well-known hubs to codes that stump even frequent travelers. Each answer comes with the story behind the code, so even if you guess wrong, you'll walk away with great conversation starters for your next flight.
Whether you're a road warrior who flies every week or someone who just loves the romance of air travel, these three little letters carry more history and meaning than you might expect. Fasten your seatbelt — this quiz is about to take off.
