ICAO code.
An ICAO code is a four-letter location indicator assigned by the International Civil Aviation Organization to airports and other aviation facilities, published in ICAO Document 7910. The first one or two letters denote the country or region, for example EGLL for London Heathrow and KJFK for New York JFK. ICAO codes are used in flight plans and air traffic control.
| Term | ICAO code |
|---|---|
| Used in | Private aviation, charter brokerage and operations |
| Related terms | IATA code, Tail number, FBO (fixed-base operator) |
| Sources | 2 listed below |
What does ICAO code mean in practice?
You will see ICAO codes on charter quotes, flight plans and operator paperwork, alongside or instead of the IATA codes used on airline tickets.
Each has a logic. ICAO codes are geographic: EG is the United Kingdom, LF is France, K is the contiguous United States, so EGGW is Luton and LFPB is Paris Le Bourget. IATA codes, by contrast, are three letters chosen for convenience and give no reliable clue to location. Small airfields used by private jets often have an ICAO code but no IATA code at all, which is one reason brokers work in ICAO. ICAO itself is the United Nations agency for civil aviation, established by the 1944 Chicago Convention, with 193 member states. It also administers aircraft type designators and the registration prefixes that make up tail numbers. Check the ICAO code on your confirmation matches the airport you intend to use; many cities have several.
Questions
What does ICAO code mean?
An ICAO code is a four-letter location indicator assigned by the International Civil Aviation Organization to airports and other aviation facilities, published in ICAO Document 7910. The first one or two letters denote the country or region, for example EGLL for London Heathrow and KJFK for New York JFK. ICAO codes are used in flight plans and air traffic control.
Sources
- Wikipedia: ICAO airport code (accessed 2026-09-20)
- Wikipedia: International Civil Aviation Organization (accessed 2026-09-20)
Last reviewed 20 September 2026 by Empty Leg Exclusive Editorial Team.