Which pair correctly lists the IATA and ICAO codes for Los Angeles International?

Which pair correctly lists the IATA and ICAO codes for Los Angeles International?

• A. IATA LAX; ICAO KLAX
• B. IATA ORD; ICAO KORD
• C. IATA LAX; ICAO KJFK
• D. IATA SFO; ICAO KSFO

Answer: (C)

IATA codes are the three-letter identifiers most travelers see, used on tickets and baggage tags, while ICAO codes are four-letter identifiers used for flight operations and air traffic control. In the United States, ICAO codes typically start with a “K” followed by the IATA code. For Los Angeles International, the IATA code is LAX and the ICAO code is KLAX. So the correct pairing is LAX for IATA and KLAX for ICAO. (For contrast, JFK is KJFK for ICAO, ORD is KORD, and SFO is KSFO—these refer to other airports.)