GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 16, 2026
Airline code
Two parallel coding systems exist to identify airlines unambiguously across booking, cargo, and billing platforms: the two-letter IATA code and the three-letter ICAO code.
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Source: https://www.iata.org/en/about/members/airline-list/
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Logistics Concept
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Definition & Explanation
Two parallel coding systems exist to identify airlines unambiguously across booking, cargo, and billing platforms: the two-letter IATA code and the three-letter ICAO code. The IATA code—LH for Lufthansa, EK for Emirates—is assigned by the International Air Transport Association and appears on the Air Waybill (AWB), in tracking systems, capacity bookings, and cargo invoices. The ICAO code (e.g., DLH, UAE) is used mainly by air traffic control and flight planning systems. Not to be confused with the IATA airport code (e.g., FRA, JFK), which identifies the location, not the carrier. An incorrect or missing airline code will prevent a shipment from being correctly matched to a carrier in any air freight management system.
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