US States Airport Codes: Complete List for All 50 States (2026)

You are staring at your boarding pass and it says ORD. You are flying to Chicago but nothing about ORD says Chicago. Or you land in Orlando and your bag comes out tagged MCO. Or your Newark flight shows EWR on every screen in the terminal.

Three letters. Endless confusion.

US states airport codes show up on every boarding pass, every baggage tag, every flight confirmation, and every search you run when booking a flight. Most travelers see them hundreds of times without ever stopping to understand what they actually mean or why so many of them seem to have nothing to do with the city they represent.

This guide covers every major US airport code, organized state by state, along with the stories behind the ones that confuse everyone. By the end you will understand exactly what those three letters mean, how to use them to find cheaper flights, and which cities have multiple airports worth comparing before you book.

What Are Airport Codes and Where Do They Come From?

Every commercial airport in the world has a unique three-letter code assigned by the International Air Transport Association IATA. These codes are called location identifiers and they are the universal language of aviation. Every airline, booking system, air traffic controller, and baggage handler on the planet uses them.

The reason they exist is pure practicality. Writing or saying Los Angeles International Airport dozens of times per minute across thousands of flights is not sustainable. LAX is faster, clearer, and impossible to confuse with anything else.

The three-letter system was not always the standard. Early airlines copied the two-letter codes the National Weather Service used to identify cities. As air travel expanded rapidly in the 1930s, two letters were no longer enough. The switch to three letters gave 17,576 possible combinations plenty to cover every airport on earth.

When the switch happened, existing airports did not want to give up their familiar two-letter identifiers. So they added a letter to the end. Airports began placing an X after the two-letter weather code. Los Angeles was LA it became LAX. Portland was PD it became PDX. Phoenix was PH it became PHX. The X is not an abbreviation for anything. It is just a placeholder that converted two letters into three while keeping the original code intact.

That explains LAX, PDX, and PHX. It does not explain ORD, MCO, MSY, or EWR. Those have different stories entirely.

Why Some Airport Codes Seem Completely Random

The codes that confuse travelers almost always have one of two explanations a historical name or a rule that blocked the obvious choice.

ORD — Chicago O’Hare

In the 1940s, a military airfield and Douglas Aircraft manufacturing plant sat just west of Chicago on land known as Orchard Place. The airfield was called Orchard Place Airport Douglas Field and given the code ORD. In 1949 the airport was renamed to honor World War II Medal of Honor recipient Edward “Butch” O’Hare. Nobody changed the code. ORD stayed, and it has been ORD ever since.

MCO — Orlando International

Orlando’s airport was built on the site of McCoy Air Force Base, named after Colonel Michael McCoy who died in a 1957 military aviation accident. When the civilian airport opened in 1975 it kept the MCO designation. The airport cannot change to ORL because that code belongs to Orlando’s smaller Executive Airport. And OIA would violate the rule that airports within 200 nautical miles cannot share codes that are too similar MIA for Miami is too close.

MSY — New Orleans

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International carries the code MSY from Moisant Stock Yards the land the airport was built on, named after aviation pioneer John Moisant who died in a 1910 crash near New Orleans. The original Moisant Fields name was given a code, the name changed, the code did not.

EWR — Newark

Newark cannot start with N because the letter N is reserved for the US Navy in American airport coding. So Newark Liberty International became EWR from East Newark, the specific area where the airport is located.

BNA — Nashville

Same Navy rule. Nashville cannot use N as a first letter so BNA comes from Berry Field, the military base the airport was originally built on.

MDW — Chicago Midway

Chicago’s second airport is named for the Battle of Midway the 1942 naval battle that turned the tide of the Pacific War. The code MDW reflects that name directly.

Once you understand the pattern historical names, military bases, blocked letters, and renamed locations the seemingly random codes start making perfect sense.

US States Airport Codes — Complete State-by-State List

Here is every major commercial airport in the United States organized by state. These are the airports you will actually use when booking flights not the hundreds of small regional airstrips that exist in each state.

Alabama (AL)

Code	Airport	City
BHM	Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport	Birmingham
HSV	Huntsville International Airport	Huntsville
MOB	Mobile Regional Airport	Mobile
MGM	Montgomery Regional Airport	Montgomery

Alaska (AK)

Code	Airport	City
ANC	Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport	Anchorage
FAI	Fairbanks International Airport	Fairbanks
JNU	Juneau International Airport	Juneau
KTN	Ketchikan International Airport	Ketchikan

Alaska has more airports per capita than any other US state due to the lack of road infrastructure in many parts of the state. Small planes are essential transportation across Alaska in a way that does not exist anywhere else in the country.

Arizona (AZ)

Code	Airport	City
PHX	Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport	Phoenix
TUS	Tucson International Airport	Tucson
FLG	Flagstaff Pulliam Airport	Flagstaff
YUM	Yuma International Airport	Yuma

PHX is one of the ten busiest airports in the US and serves as a hub for American Airlines and Southwest. Phoenix Sky Harbor handles over 25 million passengers per year and is consistently ranked among the best-run major airports in the country.

Arkansas (AR)

Code	Airport	City
LIT	Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport	Little Rock
XNA	Northwest Arkansas National Airport	Bentonville/Fayetteville
FSM	Fort Smith Regional Airport	Fort Smith

XNA serves the Bentonville/Fayetteville metro home to Walmart’s global headquarters and has grown significantly in recent years as the Northwest Arkansas region has expanded.

California (CA)

California has more major commercial airports than any other US state. Always check which one is closest and cheapest for your specific destination within the state.

Code	Airport	City
LAX	Los Angeles International Airport	Los Angeles
SFO	San Francisco International Airport	San Francisco
SAN	San Diego International Airport	San Diego
SJC	Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport	San Jose
OAK	Oakland International Airport	Oakland
SMF	Sacramento International Airport	Sacramento
BUR	Hollywood Burbank Airport	Burbank
LGB	Long Beach Airport	Long Beach
ONT	Ontario International Airport	Ontario
SNA	John Wayne Airport — Orange County	Santa Ana
SBA	Santa Barbara Airport	Santa Barbara
FAT	Fresno Yosemite International Airport	Fresno
PSP	Palm Springs International Airport	Palm Springs

For Los Angeles travel, comparing LAX vs BUR vs LGB vs ONT before booking can reveal fare differences of $50–$120 on the same route. For the San Francisco Bay Area, OAK is often significantly cheaper than SFO with similar access to downtown San Francisco by BART.

Colorado (CO)

Code	Airport	City
DEN	Denver International Airport	Denver
COS	Colorado Springs Airport	Colorado Springs
ASE	Aspen/Pitkin County Airport	Aspen
GJT	Grand Junction Regional Airport	Grand Junction
DRO	Durango-La Plata County Airport	Durango
MTJ	Montrose Regional Airport	Montrose

DEN is the fifth busiest airport in the US, a United Airlines hub, and the gateway to Colorado’s ski resorts. Frontier Airlines is based in Denver and runs frequent sales on DEN routes — always worth checking first for the lowest base fares to Colorado.

For flights to Denver, competition between United, Southwest, Frontier, and Spirit keeps fares lower than many comparable hub cities.

Connecticut (CT)

Code	Airport	City
BDL	Bradley International Airport	Hartford/Springfield
HVN	Tweed New Haven Regional Airport	New Haven

BDL serves both Hartford, Connecticut and Springfield, Massachusetts a useful option for travelers in either state looking for alternatives to Boston Logan or New York area airports.

Delaware (DE)

Delaware does not have a major commercial airport. Most Delaware travelers use Philadelphia International (PHL), Baltimore/Washington International (BWI), or Washington Reagan National (DCA).

Florida (FL)

Florida has more major commercial airports than any other East Coast state. Knowing the difference between them is one of the most practical things a Florida-bound traveler can learn.

Code	Airport	City
MIA	Miami International Airport	Miami
MCO	Orlando International Airport	Orlando
TPA	Tampa International Airport	Tampa
FLL	Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport	Fort Lauderdale
JAX	Jacksonville International Airport	Jacksonville
RSW	Southwest Florida International Airport	Fort Myers
SRQ	Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport	Sarasota
PIE	St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport	St. Petersburg
PBI	Palm Beach International Airport	West Palm Beach
ECP	Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport	Panama City Beach
VPS	Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport	Destin
DAB	Daytona Beach International Airport	Daytona Beach

FLL is almost always cheaper than MIA for South Florida travel often $60–$120 less round trip on the same travel dates. For flights to Florida, always check FLL and MCO before assuming MIA is the right airport for your destination.

Georgia (GA)

Code	Airport	City
ATL	Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport	Atlanta
SAV	Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport	Savannah
AGS	Augusta Regional Airport	Augusta
CSG	Columbus Metropolitan Airport	Columbus

ATL is the world’s busiest airport by passenger volume and has held that title for most of the past 25 years. It is a Delta Air Lines hub with nonstop service to more US destinations than almost any other airport. For flights to Atlanta, ATL is your only option there is no secondary airport for the city.

Hawaii (HI)

Code	Airport	City
HNL	Daniel K. Inouye International Airport	Honolulu
OGG	Kahului Airport	Maui
KOA	Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport	Kona
ITO	Hilo International Airport	Hilo
LIH	Lihue Airport	Kauai

Each Hawaiian island has its own airport. When flying to Hawaii, your destination airport depends entirely on which island you are visiting HNL for Oahu, OGG for Maui, KOA for the Big Island’s west side, ITO for the east side, and LIH for Kauai.

Idaho (ID)

Code	Airport	City
BOI	Boise Airport	Boise
SUN	Friedman Memorial Airport	Sun Valley
IDA	Idaho Falls Regional Airport	Idaho Falls
TWF	Magic Valley Regional Airport	Twin Falls

Illinois (IL)

Code	Airport	City
ORD	Chicago O’Hare International Airport	Chicago
MDW	Chicago Midway International Airport	Chicago
MLI	Quad City International Airport	Moline
BMI	Central Illinois Regional Airport	Bloomington

Chicago has two major airports that serve different parts of the city and are dominated by different airlines. O’Hare (ORD) is the larger hub with more nonstop destinations, operated primarily by United and American. Midway (MDW) is smaller and typically cheaper, with Southwest as the dominant carrier. For flights to Chicago, comparing both airports before booking is one of the most reliable ways to save money.

Indiana (IN)

Code	Airport	City
IND	Indianapolis International Airport	Indianapolis
SBN	South Bend International Airport	South Bend
EVV	Evansville Regional Airport	Evansville
FWA	Fort Wayne International Airport	Fort Wayne

Iowa (IA)

Code	Airport	City
DSM	Des Moines International Airport	Des Moines
CID	The Eastern Iowa Airport	Cedar Rapids
SUX	Sioux Gateway Airport	Sioux City

Kansas (KS)

Code	Airport	City
ICT	Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport	Wichita
MHK	Manhattan Regional Airport	Manhattan

Kentucky (KY)

Code	Airport	City
SDF	Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport	Louisville
LEX	Blue Grass Airport	Lexington
CVG	Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport	Northern Kentucky

CVG is a useful reminder that US states airport codes do not always reflect the state they are in. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International is physically located in Kentucky but serves the Cincinnati, Ohio metro area. Many travelers searching for flights to Cincinnati find CVG as their primary option without realizing the airport is technically in a different state.

Louisiana (LA)

Code	Airport	City
MSY	Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport	New Orleans
BTR	Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport	Baton Rouge
SHV	Shreveport Regional Airport	Shreveport
LFT	Lafayette Regional Airport	Lafayette

Maine (ME)

Code	Airport	City
PWM	Portland International Jetport	Portland
BGR	Bangor International Airport	Bangor
BHB	Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport	Bar Harbor

Maryland (MD)

Code	Airport	City
BWI	Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport	Baltimore

BWI is one of three airports serving the Washington DC metro area and is typically the cheapest of the three. Southwest Airlines dominates Baltimore with more routes and frequencies than any other carrier, and their no-fee change policy makes BWI an attractive option for flexible travelers headed to the DC area.

Massachusetts (MA)

Code	Airport	City
BOS	Boston Logan International Airport	Boston
ORH	Worcester Regional Airport	Worcester
HYA	Barnstable Municipal Airport	Cape Cod
ACK	Nantucket Memorial Airport	Nantucket
MVY	Martha’s Vineyard Airport	Martha’s Vineyard

BOS is a JetBlue focus city and a Delta hub, with strong domestic and international connections. For flights to Boston, JetBlue from JFK or Southwest from secondary markets consistently offer the most competitive fares.

Michigan (MI)

Code	Airport	City
DTW	Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport	Detroit
GRR	Gerald R. Ford International Airport	Grand Rapids
LAN	Capital Region International Airport	Lansing
FNT	Bishop International Airport	Flint
MBS	MBS International Airport	Saginaw
APN	Alpena County Regional Airport	Alpena

DTW is a Delta Air Lines hub and one of the most well-regarded major airports in the US for operational efficiency and passenger experience.

Minnesota (MN)

Code	Airport	City
MSP	Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport	Minneapolis
DLH	Duluth International Airport	Duluth
RST	Rochester International Airport	Rochester
HIB	Range Regional Airport	Hibbing

MSP is a Delta Air Lines hub and the primary gateway to the upper Midwest. It handles over 18 million passengers per year and has nonstop service to most major US cities.

Mississippi (MS)

Code	Airport	City
JAN	Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport	Jackson
GPT	Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport	Gulfport
TUP	Tupelo Regional Airport	Tupelo

Missouri (MO)

Code	Airport	City
STL	St. Louis Lambert International Airport	St. Louis
MCI	Kansas City International Airport	Kansas City
SGF	Springfield-Branson National Airport	Springfield

MCI went through a major terminal consolidation in recent years and is now one of the most modern and well-designed airports in the Midwest.

Montana (MT)

Code	Airport	City
BZN	Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport	Bozeman
BIL	Billings Logan International Airport	Billings
MSO	Missoula Montana Airport	Missoula
GTF	Great Falls International Airport	Great Falls
HLN	Helena Regional Airport	Helena
FCA	Glacier Park International Airport	Kalispell

BZN has grown dramatically as Bozeman has become one of the fastest-growing cities in the US. It is the primary gateway to Big Sky Resort and Yellowstone National Park’s north entrance.

Nebraska (NE)

Code	Airport	City
OMA	Eppley Airfield	Omaha
LNK	Lincoln Airport	Lincoln

Nevada (NV)

Code	Airport	City
LAS	Harry Reid International Airport	Las Vegas
RNO	Reno-Tahoe International Airport	Reno

LAS is one of the most competitive flight routes in the US. High passenger volume and fierce airline competition keep fares lower than almost any other major destination of similar size. For flights to Las Vegas, Southwest, Spirit, and Frontier all run aggressive pricing on the route year-round.

New Hampshire (NH)

Code	Airport	City
MHT	Manchester-Boston Regional Airport	Manchester
PSM	Portsmouth International Airport at Pease	Portsmouth

MHT is a popular alternative to Boston Logan for New England travelers smaller, easier to navigate, and sometimes significantly cheaper for domestic routes.

New Jersey (NJ)

Code	Airport	City
EWR	Newark Liberty International Airport	Newark
ACY	Atlantic City International Airport	Atlantic City

EWR is technically in New Jersey but functions as one of New York City’s three primary airports. It is a United Airlines hub and frequently offers the cheapest fares for transatlantic routes to Europe from the New York metro area.

New Mexico (NM)

Code	Airport	City
ABQ	Albuquerque International Sunport	Albuquerque
SAF	Santa Fe Regional Airport	Santa Fe
ROW	Roswell International Air Center	Roswell

New York (NY)

Iis served by three major airports. For most domestic flights, JetBlue dominates JFK, Delta operates heavily at LGA, and United runs EWR as a hub. Always compare all three before booking — fare differences of $50–$100 on the same route and date are common.

Code	Airport	City
JFK	John F. Kennedy International Airport	New York City
LGA	LaGuardia Airport	New York City
EWR	Newark Liberty International Airport	Newark, NJ (NYC metro)
BUF	Buffalo Niagara International Airport	Buffalo
ALB	Albany International Airport	Albany
SYR	Syracuse Hancock International Airport	Syracuse
ROC	Greater Rochester International Airport	Rochester
SWF	New York Stewart International Airport	Newburgh
HPN	Westchester County Airport	White Plains
ISP	Long Island MacArthur Airport	Islip

North Carolina (NC)

Code	Airport	City
CLT	Charlotte Douglas International Airport	Charlotte
RDU	Raleigh-Durham International Airport	Raleigh/Durham
GSO	Piedmont Triad International Airport	Greensboro
AVL	Asheville Regional Airport	Asheville
ILM	Wilmington International Airport	Wilmington
FAY	Fayetteville Regional Airport	Fayetteville

CLT is an American Airlines hub and one of the top ten busiest airports in the US. It is also one of the most important connecting hubs in the country for flights throughout the Southeast and mid-Atlantic.

North Dakota (ND)

Code	Airport	City
FAR	Hector International Airport	Fargo
BIS	Bismarck Airport	Bismarck
GFK	Grand Forks International Airport	Grand Forks
DIK	Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport	Dickinson

Ohio (OH)

Code	Airport	City
CMH	John Glenn Columbus International Airport	Columbus
CLE	Cleveland Hopkins International Airport	Cleveland
CVG	Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport	Cincinnati metro
DAY	Dayton International Airport	Dayton
CAK	Akron-Canton Airport	Akron/Canton
TOL	Toledo Express Airport	Toledo

Ohio is notable for having more major commercial airports than most states its size a reflection of its multiple large metro areas spread across the state.

Oklahoma (OK)

Code	Airport	City
OKC	Will Rogers World Airport	Oklahoma City
TUL	Tulsa International Airport	Tulsa

Oregon (OR)

Code	Airport	City
PDX	Portland International Airport	Portland
EUG	Eugene Airport	Eugene
MFR	Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport	Medford
RDM	Roberts Field	Redmond
OTH	Southwest Oregon Regional Airport	Coos Bay

PDX is an Alaska Airlines hub and one of the most consistently well-reviewed airports in the US for passenger experience. It is known for its locally-sourced food vendors and consistently short security lines relative to its size.

Pennsylvania (PA)

Code	Airport	City
PHL	Philadelphia International Airport	Philadelphia
PIT	Pittsburgh International Airport	Pittsburgh
MDT	Harrisburg International Airport	Harrisburg
AVP	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport	Scranton
ABE	Lehigh Valley International Airport	Allentown
IPT	Williamsport Regional Airport	Williamsport

PHL is an American Airlines hub and one of the busiest airports on the East Coast. Pittsburgh International (PIT) went through a significant modernization and downsizing in recent years and is now considered one of the most efficient mid-size airports in the country.

Rhode Island (RI)

Code	Airport	City
PVD	Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport	Providence

PVD serves as an alternative to Boston Logan for travelers in southern New England often cheaper and always less congested than BOS.

South Carolina (SC)

Code	Airport	City
CHS	Charleston International Airport	Charleston
GSP	Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport	Greenville
MYR	Myrtle Beach International Airport	Myrtle Beach
CAE	Columbia Metropolitan Airport	Columbia
HHH	Hilton Head Airport	Hilton Head Island

South Dakota (SD)

Code	Airport	City
FSD	Sioux Falls Regional Airport	Sioux Falls
RAP	Rapid City Regional Airport	Rapid City

RAP is the primary gateway for Mount Rushmore, Badlands National Park, and the Black Hills region.

Tennessee (TN)

Code	Airport	City
BNA	Nashville International Airport	Nashville
MEM	Memphis International Airport	Memphis
TYS	McGhee Tyson Airport	Knoxville
CHA	Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport	Chattanooga
TRI	Tri-Cities Regional Airport	Johnson City/Kingsport/Bristol

BNA has been one of the fastest-growing airports in the US for the past five years as Nashville’s population and tourism have surged. New nonstop routes are added regularly and competition between airlines keeps fares competitive. For flights to Nashville, the growing number of direct routes from most US cities means prices have stayed reasonable even as demand has increased.

Texas (TX)

Texas has two cities Dallas and Houston each served by two major airports. Always compare both options for each city before booking.

Code	Airport	City
DFW	Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport	Dallas
DAL	Dallas Love Field Airport	Dallas
IAH	George Bush Intercontinental Airport	Houston
HOU	William P. Hobby Airport	Houston
AUS	Austin-Bergstrom International Airport	Austin
SAT	San Antonio International Airport	San Antonio
ELP	El Paso International Airport	El Paso
LBB	Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport	Lubbock
AMA	Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport	Amarillo
MAF	Midland International Air and Space Port	Midland/Odessa

DFW is an American Airlines hub and one of the three or four busiest airports in the world by passenger volume. AUS has grown dramatically as Austin’s tech industry has expanded it is now one of the ten fastest-growing major airports in the US.

Utah (UT)

Code	Airport	City
SLC	Salt Lake City International Airport	Salt Lake City
SGU	St. George Regional Airport	St. George
PVU	Provo Municipal Airport	Provo
CDC	Cedar City Regional Airport	Cedar City

SLC is a Delta Air Lines hub and the primary gateway to Utah’s national parks Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef are all within driving distance. A brand-new terminal opened at SLC in recent years, making it one of the most modern major airports in the western US.

Vermont (VT)

Code	Airport	City
BTV	Burlington International Airport	Burlington
RUT	Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport	Rutland

Virginia (VA)

Washington DC is served by three airports, two of which are technically in Virginia. The right choice depends entirely on where in DC you are headed and which airlines you prefer.

Code	Airport	City
DCA	Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport	Arlington (DC metro)
IAD	Washington Dulles International Airport	Dulles (DC metro)
ORF	Norfolk International Airport	Norfolk
RIC	Richmond International Airport	Richmond
ROA	Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport	Roanoke
CHO	Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport	Charlottesville

DCA is the most convenient airport for central Washington DC 15 minutes from downtown by Metro. IAD is better for international connections but about 45 minutes from the city. BWI in Maryland is typically the cheapest of the three for domestic routes.

Washington (WA)

Code	Airport	City
SEA	Seattle-Tacoma International Airport	Seattle
GEG	Spokane International Airport	Spokane
BLI	Bellingham International Airport	Bellingham
PSC	Tri-Cities Airport	Kennewick/Pasco/Richland
YKM	Yakima Air Terminal	Yakima
ALW	Walla Walla Regional Airport	Walla Walla

SEA is an Alaska Airlines hub the airline’s largest and most important. Seattle has nonstop service to more West Coast cities than almost any other Pacific Northwest airport, and Alaska’s route network makes it one of the best-connected airports in the region.

West Virginia (WV)

Code	Airport	City
CRW	Yeager Airport	Charleston
HTS	Tri-State Airport	Huntington
MGW	Morgantown Municipal Airport	Morgantown
BKW	Raleigh County Memorial Airport	Beckley

Wisconsin (WI)

Code	Airport	City
MKE	Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport	Milwaukee
MSN	Dane County Regional Airport	Madison
GRB	Austin Straubel International Airport	Green Bay
ATW	Appleton International Airport	Appleton

MKE is a useful and often overlooked alternative to Chicago’s airports for travelers in southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Fares from Milwaukee are frequently $40–$80 cheaper than ORD or MDW on the same routes.

Wyoming (WY)

Code	Airport	City
JAC	Jackson Hole Airport	Jackson
CPR	Casper/Natrona County International Airport	Casper
COD	Yellowstone Regional Airport	Cody
RKS	Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport	Rock Springs
GCC	Gillette-Campbell County Airport	Gillette

JAC is one of the most uniquely situated airports in the US located entirely within Grand Teton National Park with mountain views from every runway approach. It is the primary gateway to both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.

US Cities With Multiple Airports — Always Compare Both

Several major US cities are served by more than one airport. This matters when booking because fares to the same city can vary by $50–$150 depending on which airport you search. Most travelers default to the bigger, more famous airport, meaning the cheaper option is often the one they never checked.

Chicago

• O’Hare (ORD): The larger hub with more destinations.
• Midway (MDW): Smaller and typically $40–$80 cheaper for the same dates, dominated by Southwest Airlines.

Tip: Both airports have direct transit connections to downtown Chicago.

New York City

• JFK (JFK): Has the most international routes and JetBlue’s best domestic fares.
• LaGuardia (LGA): Closest to Midtown Manhattan and best for Delta routes.
• Newark (EWR): A United hub that often has the cheapest transatlantic fares.

Tip: Fare differences of $60–$100 between the three are completely normal on the same travel date.

Los Angeles

• Los Angeles International (LAX): The main hub with the most routes.
• Burbank (BUR): Significantly more convenient for the Valley and northern LA.
• Long Beach (LGB): Much easier to navigate and sometimes cheaper.
• Ontario (ONT): Furthest from the city center but can be $80–$120 cheaper on competitive routes.

Tip: Always run a quick search on all four before making your final decision.

Washington DC

• Reagan National (DCA): Closest to downtown and best for short domestic hops.
• Dulles (IAD): Best for international connections.
• Baltimore/Washington (BWI): Almost always the cheapest of the three (especially on Southwest) and is about 45 minutes from DC by road or MARC train.

Houston

• Bush Intercontinental (IAH): A United hub with the most routes, particularly for international travel.
• Hobby (HOU): A Southwest hub that is smaller, closer to downtown Houston, and often cheaper for domestic routes.

Dallas

• Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW): An American Airlines hub with global connections.
• Love Field (DAL): A Southwest hub limited to domestic US routes (due to legacy restrictions) but often cheaper for those specific routes.

San Francisco Bay Area

• San Francisco International (SFO): The main international hub.
• Oakland (OAK): Almost always cheaper and is a simple 30-minute BART ride from downtown San Francisco.
• San Jose (SJC): The most convenient option for the South Bay and Silicon Valley, often offering competitive fares.

South Florida

• Miami International (MIA): The main international hub for the region.
• Fort Lauderdale (FLL): Consistently $60–$120 cheaper than MIA on the exact same dates.

Tip: Both airports serve the same general area, as FLL is only about 30 miles north of Miami Beach.

How Knowing Airport Codes Helps You Find Cheaper Flights

Understanding airport codes is not just travel trivia. It is a practical skill that saves money.

When you search for flights in Google Flights or any booking tool, entering the airport code directly gives you precise results. More importantly, knowing the secondary airport codes for major cities lets you run targeted comparisons that most travelers never think to make.

LAX, then search BUR for the same dates. Search SFO, then OAK. Search DCA, then BWI. In many cases the secondary airport is 20–45 minutes further from your destination but $60–$120 cheaper on a round trip. That trade-off is almost always worth it.

For Florida travel specifically, knowing the difference between MIA, FLL, MCO, TPA, and RSW and which one is actually closest to your hotel can mean the difference between a $79 fare and a $149 fare on the same travel dates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does IATA stand for?

A: International Air Transport Association the global trade organization for airlines that assigns the three-letter codes used on all boarding passes, baggage tags, and booking systems worldwide.

Q: Why does LAX have an X at the end?

A: Los Angeles originally had the two-letter weather service code LA. When airlines switched to a three-letter system, existing airports added an X to convert their codes. LA became LAX. The X is a placeholder it stands for nothing.

Q: Why is Chicago O’Hare called ORD instead of CHI or OHR?

A: The airport was originally called Orchard Field, and ORD comes from that name. It was renamed O’Hare in 1949 to honor World War II pilot Edward “Butch” O’Hare, but the code was never updated.

Q: Why is Orlando MCO instead of ORL or OIA?

A: MCO comes from McCoy Air Force Base, which occupied the site before becoming a civilian airport. ORL is already taken by Orlando’s Executive Airport. And OIA would violate the rule that airports within 200 nautical miles cannot share codes too similar to each other MIA for Miami is too close.

Q: Why is Nashville BNA and not NAS or NSH?

A: The letter N is reserved for the US Navy in US airport coding, preventing Nashville from using N as a first letter. BNA comes from Berry Field, the military base the airport was originally built on.

Q: Does every US state have a commercial airport?

A: Yes all 50 states have at least one airport with scheduled commercial service. Delaware is the only state without a major commercial airport of its own, with residents typically using Philadelphia, Baltimore, or Washington DC area airports.

Q: Which US airport has the most flights?

A: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) is consistently the busiest airport in the world by total passenger movements and has held that distinction for most of the past 25 years.

Q: How do I know which airport to use when a city has two options?

A: Search both and compare total cost including ground transportation. The secondary airport is almost always cheaper on the fare but adds travel time from the city center. For most travelers on most routes, the fare savings outweigh the extra ground travel time.

The Bottom Line

Three letters on a boarding pass represent an entire system built over decades, shaped by history, military bases, naming conventions, Navy letter reservations, and geography rules that prevent airports from sharing confusingly similar codes.

Knowing what those letters mean and where they came from makes you a more informed traveler. But knowing how to use them comparing secondary airports, understanding which codes serve which parts of a city, and running targeted searches instead of just typing a city name makes you a cheaper one.

Ready to book?

Call TruAirfare at +844-744-6348. Tell us your destination and we will compare every airport option on your route main hub and secondary airports to find you the real lowest fare.