IATA airline designator
- For missing airlines see Airline codes which is the replacement article for this one. Data is being migrated to that article and once migrated it should not be added back here.
IATA airline designators, sometimes called IATA reservation codes, are two-character codes assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to the world's airlines in accordance with the provisions of Resolution 762. They form the first two characters of the flight number.
Designators are used to identify an airline for all commercial purposes, including reservations, timetables, tickets, tariffs, air waybills and in airline interline telecommunications. There are three types of designator: unique, numeric/alpha and controlled duplicate.
Since 1987 the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has been issuing three-letter codes, which are due to be adopted by IATA.
IATA maintains two policies to deal with the limited number of available codes: after an airline is delisted, the code becomes available for reuse; after six months, IATA issues "controlled duplicates". Controlled duplicates are issued to regional airlines whose destinations are not likely to overlap, in such a way that the same code would be shared by two different airlines. The controlled duplicate is denoted in IATA literature and here with an asterisk (*) following the code. Historical assignments are included for completeness.
List of designators
Airlines listed by designator, with nationality in parentheses.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
A
- A3 - Aegean Airways (Greece)
- AE - Mandarin Airlines (Taiwan)
- AK - Air Asia (Malaysia)
- AL - Skyway Airlines/Midwest Connect (United States)
- AR - Aerolíneas Argentinas
B
- B7 - Uni Air (Taiwan)
- BH - Hawkair (Canada)
- BM - Air Sicilia (Italy)
- BN - Forward Air International Airlines (United States)
- BN - Braniff International Airways (United States) defunct
- BO - Airbridge Cargo Airlines (Russia) changed to RU
C
- C3 - ICAR Airlines (Ukraine) defunct
- C8 - Chicago Express Airlines (United States) defunct
- CB - Scot Airways (United Kingdom)
- CN - Islands Nationair (Papua New Guinea)
- CP - Canadian Airlines defunct
- CR - OAG (United Kingdom)
- CT - Civil Air Transport (Taiwan ROC) defunct
D
- D5 - Dau Air (Germany)
- D7 - FlyAsianXpress (East Malaysia)
- DE - Condor Airlines (Germany)
- DM - Maersk (Denmark) defunct
- DQ - Coastal Air (U.S. Virgin Islands)
- DV - Lufttaxi Fluggesellschaft (Germany)
- DX - Danish Air Transport
E
- E6 - Bringer Air Cargo Taxi Aereo (Brazil)
- E7 - Estafeta Carga Aerea (Mexico)
- EF - Far Eastern Air Transport (Taiwan ROC)
- EK - Emirates Airline (United Arab Emirates)
- EM - Empire Airlines (United States)
- EX - Air Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic)
- EZ - Sun Air of Scandinavia (Denmark)
F
- FC - Finncomm Airlines (Finland)
- FF - Airshop (Netherlands)
- FN - Regional Airlines (Morocco)
- FS - Servicios de Transportes Aéreos Fueguinos (Argentina)
- FV - Pulkovo Aviation Enterprise (Russia) Merged with R4 and now is called STC Russia
G
- G1 - Gorkha Airlines (Nepal)
- G7 - Gandalf Airlines (Italy) defunct
- GB - ABX Air (United States)
- GE - TransAsia Airways (Taiwan)
- GK - Go One Airways (United Kingdom)
- GV - Aero Flight (Germany) defunct
- GX - Pacificair (The Philippines)
- GY - Guyana Airways 2000
- GY - Tri-MG Intra Asia Airlines (Indonesia)
- GZ - Air Rarotonga (Cook Islands)
H
- H2 - Sky Airline (Chile)
- H4 - Héli Sécurité Helicopter Airlines (France)
- H4 - Inter Islands Airlines (Cape Verde)
- H5 - Mavial Magadan Airlines (Russia)
- H7 - Eagle Air (Uganda)
- HP - Hawaiian Pacific Airlines (United States) (defunct)
- HP - Phoenix Airways (Switzerland)
I
- IH - Falcon Aviation (Sweden)
- IJ - InteliJet Airways (Colombia)
- IL - Lankair (Sri Lanka)
- IS - Island Airlines (United States)
- IT - Kingfisher Airlines {India}
- IW - AOM French Airlines defunct
J
- J9 - Guinee Airlines (Guinea)
- JA - B&H Airlines (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
- JD - Japan Airlines Domestic Company
- JH - Nordeste Linhas Aereas Regionais (Brazil)
- JR - Aero California (Mexico)
- JV - Bearskin Airlines (Canada)
K
- K2 - Eurolot (Poland)
- K4 - Kalitta Air (United States)
- K5 - Wings of Alaska (United States)
- K6 - Bravo Air Congo
- K8 - Zambia Skyways
- K9 - Krylo Airlines (Russia)
- KA - Dragonair (Hong Kong)
- KB - Druk Air (Bhutan)
- KD - Kaliningradavia (Russia)
- KE - Korean Air (South Korea)
- KF - Blue1 (Finland)
- KG - LAI - Linea Aerea IAACA (Venezuela)
- KI - Adam Air (Indonesia)
- KJ - British Mediterranean Airways
- KK - Atlasjet (Turkey)
- KL - KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
- KM - Air Malta
- KN - China United Airlines
- KO - Alaska Central Express (United States)
- KP - Kiwi International Air Lines (United States) defunct
- KQ - Kenya Airways
- KR - Comores Aviation
- KS - PenAir (United States)
- KT - Kampuchea Airlines changed to E2
- KU - Kuwait Airways
- KV - Kavminvodyavia (Russia)
- KW - Kelowna Flightcraft (Canada)
- KX - Cayman Airways (Cayman Islands)
- KZ - Nippon Cargo Airlines (Japan)
L
- L1 - Lufthansa Systems
- L2 - Lynden Air Cargo (United States)
- L3 - DHL De Guatemala
- L3 - LTU Austria
- L5 - Lufttransport A/S (Norway)
- L6 - Tbilaviamsheni (Georgia)
- L7 - Laoag International Airlines (The Philippines)
- L7 - Linea Aerea SAPSA (Chile)
- L8 - Air Luxor GB (Guinea-Bissau)
- L9 - Teamline Air (Austria)
- LA - LAN Airlines (Chile)
- LB - Lloyd Aereo Boliviano (Bolivia)
- LC - Varig Logística (Brazil)
- LD - Air Hong Kong
- LD - Linea Turistica Aerotuy (Venezuela)
- LF - FlyNordic (Sweden)
- LG - Luxair (Luxembourg)
- LH - Lufthansa/Lufthansa Cargo (Germany)
- LI - LIAT (Antigua and Barbuda)
- LJ - Sierra National Airlines (Sierra Leone)
- LL - Allegro (Mexico) defunct
- LM - Livingston (Italy)
- LN - Libyan Arab Airlines
- LO - LOT Polish Airlines
- LP - LAN Peru
- LQ - Lebanese Air Transport
- LR - Lacsa (Costa Rica)
- LS - Jet2.com (United Kingdom)
- LT - LTU International (Germany)
- LU - LAN Express (Chile)
- LV - Albanian Airlines
- LW - Pacific Wings (United States)
- LX - Swiss International Air Lines (Switzerland)
- LY - El Al (Israel)
- LZ - Balkan Bulgarian Airlines defunct
M
- M2 - Mahfooz Aviation (Gambia)
- M3 - ABSA - Aerolinhas Brasileiras (Brazil)
- M3 - Air Service (FYR Macedonia)
- M3 - North Flying (Denmark)
- M4 - Nova Air (Mexico)
- M5 - Kenmore Air (United States)
- M6 - Amerijet International (United States)
- M7 - MAS Carga (Mexico)
- M7 - Tropical Airways (Haiti)
- M7 - Marsland Aviation (Sudan)
- M9 - Motor Sich (Ukraine)
- MA - Malév Hungarian Airlines
- MB - Execaire (Canada)
- MB - MNG Airlines (Turkey)
- MC - Air Mobility Command (United States)
- MD - Air Madagascar
- ME - Middle East Airlines (Lebanon)
- MF - Xiamen Airlines (China)
- MG - Champion Air (United States)
- MH - Malaysia Airlines/Malaysia Airlines Kargo
- MI - Silkair (Singapore)
- MJ - LAPA (Argentina) defunct
- MK - Air Mauritius
- ML - African Transport Trading and Investment Company (Sudan)
- MM - EuroAtlantic Airways (Portugal)
- MM - SAM Colombia
- MN - Comair South Africa/kulula.com
- MO - Abu Dhabi Amiri Flight (United Arab Emirates)
- MO - Calm Air (Canada)
- MP - Martinair (Netherlands)
- MQ - American Eagle Airlines (United States)
- MR - Air Mauritanie (Mauritania)
- MS - Egypt Air
- MT - Thomas Cook Airlines (United Kingdom)
- MU - China Eastern Airlines
- MV - Armenian International Airways
- MW - Maya Island Air (Belize)
- MX - Mexicana de Aviación (Mexico)
- MY - MAXjet Airways (United States)
- MY - Midwest Airlines (Egypt)
- MZ - Merpati Nusantara Airlines (Indonesia)
N
- N2 - Kabo Air (Nigeria)
- N2 - Daghestan Airlines (Russia)
- N3 - Omskavia (Russia)
- N4 - Minerva Airlines (Italy)
- N5 - Kyrgyz International Airlines
- N5 - Skagway Air Service (United States)
- N6 - Lagun Air (Spain)
- N8 - Hong Kong Airlines (Hong Kong) changed to HX
- N8 - Salaam Express Air Services (Kenya)
- N9 - North Coast Aviation (Papua New Guinea)
- NA - North American Airlines (United States)
- NB - Sterling Airlines (Denmark)
- NC - National Jet Systems (Australia)
- NC - Northern Air Cargo (United States)
- NE - SkyEurope Airlines (Slovakia)
- NF - Air Vanuatu
- NG - Lauda Air (Austria)
- NH - All Nippon Airways (Japan)
- NI - Portugalia
- NK - Spirit Airlines (United States)
- NL - Shaheen Air (Pakistan)
- NM - Air Madrid (Spain)
- NM - Mount Cook Airline (New Zealand)
- NN - VIM Airlines (Russia)
- NO - Aus-Air (Australia)
- NO - Neos (Italy)
- NQ - Air Japan
- NR - Pamir Air (Afghanistan)
- NT - Binter Canarias (Spain)
- NU - Japan Transocean Air
- NV - Air Central (Japan)
- NW - Northwest Airlines (United States)
- NX - Air Macau
- NY - Air Iceland
- NZ - Air New Zealand
O
- O2 - Oceanic Airlines (Guinea)
- O6 - OceanAir (Brazil)
- O7 - OzJet (Australia) defunct
- O8 - Oasis Hong Kong Airlines(Hong Kong)
- OA - Olympic Airlines (Greece)
- OB - Astrakhan Airlines (Russia)
- OC - PGA Express (Portugal)
- OE - Asia Overnight Express (The Philippines)
- OF - Air Finland
- OF - Transports et Travaux Aériens de Madagascar
- OH - Comair (United States)
- OJ - Overland Airways (Nigeria)
- OK - Czech Airlines
- OL - OLT - Ostfriesische Lufttransport (Germany)
- OM - MIAT-Mongolian Airlines
- ON - Air Nauru
- OO - SkyWest (United States)
- OP - Chalk's Ocean Airways (United States)
- OR - Arkefly (Netherlands)
- OS - Austrian Airlines
- OT - Aeropelican Air Services (Australia)
- OU - Croatia Airlines
- OV - Estonian Air
- OW - Executive Airlines (United States)
- OX - Orient Thai Airlines
- OY - Omni Air International (United States)
- OZ - Asiana Airlines (Republic of Korea)
- OZ - Ozark Airlines (United States) defunct
P
- P0 - Proflight Commuter Services (Zambia)
- P2 - UTair (Russia) Changed to UT since end 2006
- P5 - AeroRepublica (Colombia)
- P7 - Russian Sky Airlines
- P8 - Pantanal Linhas Aereas (Brazil)
- P9 - Nas Air (Mali)
- P9 - Perm Airlines (Russia)
- PA - Florida Coastal Airlines (United States)
- PA - Pan American World Airways (United States) defunct
- PC - Air Fiji
- PC - Continental Airways (Russia)
- PD - Porter Airlines (Canada)
- PE - Air Europe Italy
- PF - Palestinian Airlines
- PG - Bangkok Airways (Thailand)
- PH - Polynesian Airlines (Samoa)
- PI - Sun Air (Fiji)
- PI - Piedmont Airlines (United States) defunct
- PJ - Air Saint-Pierre (France)
- PK - Pakistan International Airlines
- PL - AeroPeru defunct
- PL - Airstars Airways (Russia)
- PM - Tropic Air (Belize)
- PN - Pan American World Airways (United States) defunct
- PO - Polar Air Cargo (United States)
- PQ - Panafrican Airways (Cote d'Ivoire)
- PR - Philippine Airlines (The Philippines)
- PS - Ukraine International Airlines
- PS - Pacific Southwest Airlines (United States) defunct
- PT - Capital Cargo International Airlines (United States)
- PT - West Air Sweden
- PU - PLUNA (Uruguay)
- PV - PAN Air (Spain)
- PW - Precision Air (Tanzania)
- PX - Air Niugini (Papua New Guinea)
- PY - Surinam Airways
- PZ - TAM Mercosur (Paraguay)
Q
- Q3 - Zambian Airways
- Q4 - Mastertop Linhas Aereas (Brazil)
- Q5 - 40-Mile Air (United States)
- Q6 - Aero Condor Peru
- Q8 - Pacific East Asia Cargo Airlines (The Philippines)
- Q9 - Afrinat International Airlines (Congo)
- QB - Georgian National Airlines (Georgia)
- QC - Air Corridor (Mozambique)
- QD - Air Class Lineas Aereas (Uruguay)
- QE - Crossair Europe (Switzerland)
- QF - Qantas (Australia)
- QH - Altyn Air (Kyrgyzstan)
- QH - Air Florida defunct
- QI - Cimber Air (Denmark)
- QJ - Jet Airways (United States)
- QK - Air Canada Jazz
- QL - Aero Lanka (Sri Lanka)
- QM - Air Malawi
- QO - Aeromexpress (Mexico)
- QO - Origin Pacific Airways (New Zealand)
- QQ - Alliance Airlines (Australia)
- QQ - Reno Air (United States) defunct
- QR - Qatar Airways
- QS - African Safari Airways (Switzerland)
- QS - Travel Service (Czech Republic)
- QT - Tampa Cargo (Colombia)
- QU - East African Airlines (Uganda)
- QV - Lao Airlines
- QW - Blue Wings (Germany)
- QW - SkyKing Turks and Caicos Airways
- QX - Horizon Air (United States)
- QY - European Air Transport (Belgium)
- QZ - Indonesia AirAsia
R
- R0 - Royal Airlines (Pakistan)
- R1 - Sirin
- R2 - Orenburg Airlines (Russia)
- R3 - Air Yakutia (Russia)
- R4 - STC Russia (Russia) Airline merged with FV
- R5 - Jordan Aviation
- R5 - Malta Air Charter
- R6 - Air Srpska (Bosnia & Herzegovina) defunct
- R6 - RACSA (Guatemala)
- R7 - Aserca Airlines (Venezuela)
- R8 - Kyrgyzstan Airlines
- R9 - Camai Air (United States)
- RA - Royal Nepal Airlines
- RB - Syrian Arab Airlines
- RC - Atlantic Airways (Faroe Islands)
- RD - Ryan International Airlines (United States)
- RE - Aer Arann (Ireland)
- RF - Florida West International Airways (United States)
- RG - Varig (Brazil)
- RH - Republic Express Airlines (Indonesia)
- RI - Mandala Airlines
- RJ - Royal Jordanian
- RK - Royal Khmer Airlines (Cambodia)
- RL - Royal Phnom Penh Airways (Cambodia)
- RN - Air Horizons (France) defunct
- RO - TAROM (Romania)
- RP - Chautauqua Airlines (United States)
- RQ - Kam Air (Afghanistan)
- RR - Royal Air Force (United Kingdom)
- RS - Oman Royal Flight
- RU - Airbridge Cargo Airlines (Russia)
- RV - Caspian Airlines (Russia)
- RV - Reeve Aleutian Airways (United States) defunct
- RW - Republic Airlines (United States)
- RX - Aviaexpress (Hungary)
- RZ - Euro Exec Express (Sweden)
S
- S0 - Slok Air Gambia
- S2 - Air Sahara (India)
- S3 - Santa Barbara Airlines (Venezuela)
- S4 - SATA International (Portugal)
- S5 - Shuttle America (United States)
- S5 - Trast Aero (Kyrgyztan)
- S6 - Star Air (Denmark)
- S7 - S7 Airlines (Russia)
- S8 - Chari Aviation Services (South Africa)
- S8 - Shovkoviy Shlyah Airlines (Ukraine)
- S9 - East African Safari Air (Kenya) defunct
- SA - South African Airways
- SB - Aircalin (France)
- SC - Shandong Airlines (China)
- SD - Sudan Airways
- SE - Star Airlines (France)
- SF - Tassili Airlines (Algeria)
- SG - Jetsgo (Canada) defunct
- SG - SpiceJet (India)
- SH - FlyMe (Sweden)
- SI - Skynet Airlines (Ireland)
- SJ - Freedom Air (New Zealand)
- SK - Scandinavian Airlines (Denmark, Norway, Sweden)
- SL - Rio Sul Serviços Aéreos Regionais (Brazil)
- SM - Swedline Express (Sweden)
- SN - SN Brussels Airlines (Belgium)
- SO - Sosoliso Airlines (Nigeria)
- SO - Superior Aviation (United States)
- SP - SATA Air Acores (Portugal)
- SQ - Singapore Airlines
- SR - Swissair defunct
- SS - Corsairfly (France)
- ST - Germania (Germany)
- SU - Aeroflot (Russia)
- SV - Saudi Arabian Airlines
- SW - Air Namibia
- SY - Sun Country Airlines (United States)
T
- T2 - Thai Air Cargo
- T3 - Eastern Airways (United Kingdom)
- T4 - Hellas Jet (Greece) defunct
- T5 - Turkmenistan Airlines
- T6 - Tavrey Airlines (Ukraine)
- T7 - Twin Jet (France)
- T8 - Transportes Aereos Neuquen (Argentina)
- T9 - TransMeridian Airlines (United States) defunct
- T9 - Thai Star Airlines
- TA - TACA (El Salvador)
- TC - Air Tanzania
- TD - Atlantis European Airways (Armenia)
- TD - Tulip Air (Netherlands)
- TE - Lithuanian Airlines
- TF - Malmö Aviation (Sweden)
- TG - Thai Airways International
- TH - BA Connect (United Kingdom)
- TH - Transmile Air Services (Malaysia)
- TI - Tol Air (Puerto Rico)
- TK - Turkish Airlines (Turkey)
- TL - Airnorth (Australia)
- TL - Trans Mediterranean Airways (Lebanon)
- TM - LAM - Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique
- TN - Air Tahiti Nui
- TO - President Airlines (Cambodia)
- TP - TAP Portugal (Portugal)
- TQ - Tandem Aero (Moldova)
- TR - Transbrasil defunct
- TR - Tiger Airways (Singapore)
- TS - Air Transat (Canada)
- TT - Air Lithuania defunct
- TU - Tunisair (Tunisia)
- TW - Trans World Airlines defunct
- TV - Virgin Express (Belgium)
- TX - Air Caraïbes (France)
- TY - Air Calédonie (France)
- TY - Iberworld (Spain)
- TZ - ATA Airlines (United States)
U
- U2 - easyJet (United Kingdom)
- U2 - United Feeder Service (United States)
- U3 - Avies (Estonia)
- U4 - PMTair (Cambodia)
- U5 - USA 3000 Airlines
- U5 - International Business Air (Sweden) changed to 6I
- U6 - Ural Airlines (Russia)
- U7 - Northern Dene Airways (Canada)
- U8 - Armavia (Armenia)
- U9 - Tatarstan Airlines (Russia)
- UA - United Airlines (United States)
- UB - Myanmar Airways International
- UD - Hex'Air (France)
- UE - Transeuropean Airlines (Russia)
- UF - UM Airlines (Ukraine)
- UG - Tuninter (Tunisia)
- UH - US Helicopter Corporation (United States)
- UI - Eurocypria Airlines (Cyprus)
- UL - SriLankan Airlines
- UM - Air Zimbabwe
- UN - Transaero (Russia)
- UO - Hong Kong Express
- UP - Bahamasair
- UT - UTair (Russia) Changed from P2 since end 2006
- UQ - O'Connor Airlines (Australia)
- US - US Airways (United States)
- US - Unavia Suisse (Switzerland)
- US - USAir (United States) (now known as US Airways)
- US* - USAir Express (United States) (Chautauqua Airlines, Inc. d/b/a USAir Express) (now RP*)
- US* - USAir Express (United States) (Allegheny Commuter Airlines, Inc. d/b/a USAir Express) (was AL)
- UU - Air Austral (Reunion)
- UX - Air Europa (Spain)
- UY - Cameroon Airlines defunct
V
- VA - Viasa (Venezuela) defunct
- VD - Air Liberté (France) defunct
- VE - Avensa (Venezuela)
- VG - VLM Airlines (Belgium)
- VR - TACV (Cape Verde)
- VX - ACES Colombia defunct
- VX - Virgin America (United States)
- VY - Formosa Airlines (Taiwan) defunct
W
- WA - Western Airlines (United States) defunct
- WF - Widerøe
X
- XG - Clickair (Spain)
- XK - CCM Airlines
- XM - J-Air (Japan)
Y
- YK - Cyprus Turkish Airlines (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus)
- YK - Air Kibris (defunct?)
- YT - Air Togo
Z
- ZA - Astair Airlines (Russia)
- ZE - Líneas Aéreas Azteca (Mexico)
- ZG - Viva Macau (Macau)
- ZN - Air Bourbon
- ZS - Azzurra Air
- ZU - Helios Airways