How does an airport get a location code?

Navi Mumbai International Airport received the International Air Transport Association (IATA) code as ‘NMI,’ while Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport retains the code ‘BOM’.

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Airport codes, also known as location codes, help differentiate airports globally.

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These codes appear on reservations, flight tickets, and luggage tags.

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There are two types of airport codes: IATA (three-letter) and 4-letter ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization).

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IATA codes are assigned to most commercial airports and some transport terminals.

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ICAO codes are used for airports without IATA codes and air traffic control.

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IATA codes typically derive from the first three letters of the airport’s city or name.

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The Airline Coding Directory (ACD) is the official source for IATA codes, updated daily.

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