Airport Code Finder: Look Up Any IATA Code by City

Quick answer

Reviewed Oct 19, 2026 · 2 min read

This airport code finder searches about 5,600 airports worldwide. Type a city or a three-letter code, and it lists matching airports with their IATA code, city and country. Use it to decode a boarding pass, search flights to a smaller airport, or check which code belongs to the city you’re actually flying to.

Researched and maintained by Empyrean Travel · How we research

How do you use the airport code finder?

Type a city name or a three-letter code into the search box. The finder lists matching airports with their IATA code, city and country. Search by code to decode a boarding pass or baggage tag, or by city to see which airports serve it.

Airport codes worth knowing for Empyrean destinations

These codes come up often when planning trips to our specialty regions:

PPT — Faa’a International Airport, Papeete, Tahiti
BOB — Bora Bora Airport, on its own motu in the lagoon
JNB — O.R. Tambo International, Johannesburg
CPT — Cape Town International
NBO — Jomo Kenyatta International, Nairobi
JRO — Kilimanjaro International, Tanzania
MUB — Maun, gateway to Botswana’s Okavango Delta

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between IATA and ICAO airport codes?

IATA codes are the three-letter codes used on tickets, bags and boarding passes, such as LAX for Los Angeles. ICAO codes are four-letter codes used by pilots and air traffic control, such as KLAX. Travelers almost always need the IATA code. Our IATA airport code glossary entry explains how the codes are assigned.

Why do some cities have a city code as well as airport codes?

Large cities with several airports often have a metropolitan code that searches them all at once, such as LON for London, NYC for New York and TYO for Tokyo. Searching by city code can surface cheaper or more convenient options, but always check which airport you’re actually flying into before booking ground transport.

Why can’t I find a small airstrip?

The finder covers about 5,600 airports with published IATA codes. Many private airstrips used on fly-in safaris, and some small island strips, don’t have IATA codes or scheduled flights, so they won’t appear. Your safari operator or Gigi will handle those light-aircraft connections; see fly-in safari.

Official sources

Rules, fees and schedules change — confirm the latest details at the source before you travel.

IATA Airline and Airport Code Search