Have you ever wondered how airports get their three-letter codes? These codes, known as International Air Transport Association (IATA) codes, are used to identify airports around the world. The process of assigning these codes is quite interesting, as they are not always straightforward.
For example, some codes are based on the city name, such as LAX for Los Angeles International Airport. Others are based on the airport’s name, like JFK for John F. Kennedy International Airport. And then there are some that are seemingly unrelated, like ORD for Chicago O’Hare International Airport, which is actually derived from its former name, Orchard Field.
There are many other instances where airport codes seem to have no apparent relationship with the names of the airports they represent.
- MSY – Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
- OGG – Kahului Airport (Maui)
- DAD – Da Nang, Vietnam
We’ve flown to all of these airports, so we’ve seen these codes on our luggage tags at one point or another. However, living in Florida, we’re surrounded by airports with boring IATA codes. Tampa International Airport’s code is TPA, Daytona Beach International Airport’s code is DAB, Jacksonville’s code is JAX, and Miami International Airport’s code is MIA. All of these have some resemblance to the cities they serve. Then you get to Orlando International Airport.
It’s common for people to refer to Orlando’s primary airport as OIA, assuming that the airport’s IATA code corresponds to its name. However, we’re very comfortable calling Orlando International Airport by its three-letter code, MCO.
But that’s not the case for many people in Orlando who aren’t familiar with the history of the Orlando Airport. There’s even a part of the airport’s Frequently Asked Questions about why the airport is called MCO:
How did the airport get the designator “MCO”?
The airport designator code “MCO” comes from the former McCoy Air Force Base, named after Colonel Michael N. W. McCoy, on which site, located at -81.08W 28.96 N, and at 113 feet (34 meters) above sea level, Orlando International Airport now stands.
The local press often refer to the airport as OIA, but the airport is very clear that they are MCO and have no intention of changing the IATA code.
We are not "OIA" – our 𝑛𝑎𝑚𝑒 is ✨MCO!✨ pic.twitter.com/UcYb7H0Vbr
— Orlando International Airport (@MCO) October 10, 2023
Even if they used a Halloween meme to make the statement, MCO is serious and has spent time and money to associate the code with the airport.
Besides wanting to keep a sense of history, there’s a logistical reason that Orlando keeps the MCO name. There’s already an airport with the designation of OIA. In the case of “OIA,” it already stands for Ourilândia do Norte Airport – an airport in Brazil that’s now closed.
Changing the IATA code of Orlando International Airport to OIA would require a significant effort. Although most infrequent travelers may not notice the difference, those of us who travel frequently are attached to the current code MCO and prefer it to remain unchanged.
First people will want to change the IATA code, then the next thing they’ll want is to change the pattern of the carpet in the terminal.
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2 comments
In my airline days, I always made boarding announcements as “flight xxx to Orlando McCoy.” Pretty soon got all my gate agents doing so.
Then again, I liked using airports proper names…. “Detroit Metro Wayne County” rolls off the tongue over the terminal public address…
Used to live in central Fla and it always bothered me how local newscasters referred to it as OIA.
I still love the carpet pattern in the terminal.
MCO seems to draw lots of ire among AVgeeks, often ranking in their most detested airports, but I don’t really get it. Sure, there’s tons of people, many of which are infrequent travelers, but with precheck and CLEAR, you move through pretty quickly. Decent lounge selection, fairly easy to navigate, and among the lowest average fares in the nation with tons of direct flights. Living in a smaller town now, I miss it!