The 10 fields and concepts you'll meet in the response — defined in plain English, each with a real example value.
A 3-letter airport code assigned by the International Air Transport Association for commercial use.
IATA codes appear on boarding passes, luggage tags, and flight displays. They are designed to be recognizable and often relate to the city or airport name (LAX for Los Angeles, CDG for Charles de Gaulle).
ExampleJFK is the IATA code for John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
A 4-letter airport code used by the International Civil Aviation Organization for flight planning and air traffic control.
ICAO codes follow a regional prefix system. The first letter indicates the region (K for continental US, E for Northern Europe, L for Southern Europe). Used by pilots, controllers, and aviation systems.
ExampleKJFK is the ICAO code for JFK Airport. The K prefix indicates continental United States.
The latitude and longitude values that specify an airports geographic location.
Airport coordinates typically represent the airport reference point (ARP), usually near the center of the runway complex. Coordinates enable distance calculations, map placement, and navigation applications.
ExampleJFK coordinates: 40.6413°N, 73.7781°W
The height of an airport above mean sea level, typically in feet or meters.
Elevation affects aircraft performance and is important for flight planning. High-altitude airports (like Denver at 5,430 ft or La Paz at 13,325 ft) require special considerations for takeoff and landing.
ExampleDenver International Airport (DEN) elevation: 5,430 feet.
Multiple airports serving a single large urban region.
Major cities often have multiple airports. New York has JFK, LaGuardia (LGA), and Newark (EWR). London has Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW), Stansted (STN), Luton (LTN), City (LCY), and Southend (SEN). Travel apps should show all options.
ExampleThe San Francisco Bay Area is served by SFO, OAK, and SJC.
The IANA timezone identifier for the local time at an airport.
IANA timezones (like America/New_York or Europe/London) automatically handle daylight saving time transitions. Using these identifiers instead of fixed UTC offsets ensures correct local time calculations year-round.
ExampleLAX is in timezone America/Los_Angeles (PST/PDT).
A major airport used by airlines as a central connecting point for flights.
Airlines route passengers through hub airports to connect to other destinations. Major hubs include Atlanta (ATL) for Delta, Chicago (ORD) for United, and Dallas (DFW) for American. Hub status affects flight frequency and connectivity.
ExampleAtlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) is Delta Air Lines primary hub.
An airport primarily serving private and non-commercial flights.
General aviation (GA) airports handle private planes, flight training, and charter flights rather than scheduled commercial service. They may have ICAO codes but often lack IATA codes. Examples include Van Nuys (VNY) and Teterboro (TEB).
ExampleTeterboro Airport (TEB) near New York serves private jets and corporate aviation.
A building at an airport where passengers board and disembark aircraft.
Large airports have multiple terminals, sometimes separated by significant distances. Terminals may be designated by numbers, letters, or airline names. Knowing terminal information helps passengers navigate connections.
ExampleJFK has 6 terminals. International arrivals typically use Terminals 1, 4, 5, 7, or 8.
The strip of paved surface where aircraft take off and land.
Runways are numbered based on magnetic heading (divided by 10). Runway 27 points to 270°. Major airports have multiple runways for different wind conditions and increased capacity. Length and surface type affect which aircraft can use them.
ExampleRunway 4L/22R at JFK is 12,079 feet long.
