When searching for operators on ch-aviation, you may come across two types of aviation codes: IATA and ICAO. Both are used to identify airlines and operators, but they serve different purposes and are issued by different organisations.

IATA — International Air Transport Association

IATA assigns two-letter codes to its member carriers and other airlines participating in the industry's distribution channels. IATA codes are primarily used for commercial purposes, such as airline reservations and ticketing.

Note that a limited degree of duplication in IATA codes is possible, meaning two different operators may occasionally share the same code.

ICAO — International Civil Aviation Organization

ICAO assigns three-letter codes to operators worldwide, working in cooperation with each country's civil aviation authority. Unlike IATA codes, ICAO codes are unique to each operator and are used primarily for operational purposes, such as air traffic control and flight planning.

Which code should I use when searching?

Either code can be used in the ch-aviation Operator Search. As a general guide:

• Use the IATA code (two letters) if you are looking up an operator in a commercial or reservations context.
• Use the ICAO code (three letters) for operational lookups or when you need to ensure a unique match.

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