What Is IATA Code? Definition & Meaning in Aviation
IATA codes are the short codes used by the travel industry: two letters for airlines (PK) and three letters for airports (KHI).
In plain language
You see them on tickets, bag tags and booking sites. They are not always unique over time, and some airports and cities share codes.
Example
PK is the IATA code of PIA, and KHI is the IATA code of Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport.
Why it matters
IATA codes are what you see on tickets, bag tags and booking sites. Knowing them helps you spot errors, such as booking the wrong airport for a city that has more than one.