Concern over Gaya airport code

A member of the Rajya Sabha has raised concerns about ‘GAY’ being the International Air Transport Association (IATA) identifier code for Gaya International Airport in Bihar. In response, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, stated that IATA three-letter airport codes are considered permanent and are only changed under exceptional circumstances, typically related to air safety.

Key Points from the Minister’s Reply:

• IATA Codes: The IATA location identifiers are three-letter codes assigned to airports to facilitate identification in various travel-related systems. These codes are usually based on the first three letters of the location’s name.
• Permanence of Codes: Air India had previously requested a change for the Gaya airport code. However, IATA has conveyed that, under the provisions of IATA Resolution 763, assigned codes are considered permanent.
• Intended Use: IATA codes are primarily for commercial airline operations and are issued at the request of airline operators.

Comparison with ICAO Codes:

• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) also has its own airport coding system.
• Scope: The ICAO system is broader, encompassing commercial airports, other airstrips, and even air bases worldwide.
• Format: Unlike IATA codes, ICAO codes consist of four letters, which allows for a much larger number of unique combinations (456,976).

(Source: TH)