Airport Locations Key Terms

Basic airport locations key terms to help the business traveler

Trying to maneuver through an airport can be tricky with crunching flight times and running between gates to make a flight. Many fliers stress over getting to the airport on time and checking in. All this bustling begins with the need to book a flight and making reservations.

Understanding some important airport locations key terms will create a more familiar arena for what could be a crazy day at the airport. By being fluent in these terms, a traveler can more easily traverse to and through any airport.

 

Airport code

An airport code is a three letter code assigned to an airport. Each airport has a different code that allows the airport to be quickly and easily identified.
Try: Flight4 helps travelers understand airport lingo. For a thorough explanation of airport codes, their history and how they work, see the information provided by Dave English.

Airport Improvement Program, AIP

The Airport Improvement Program, or AIP, is funding provided to airports for improvements. Traveler safety and comfort are priorities among the approved projects for this program.
Try: See Open CRS for current information on AIP or visit the Federal Aviation Administration for an overview of the program.

Commercial airport

While military airports are reserved for military purposes and general aviation airports are limited in size and often found in small towns and rural areas, a commercial airport serves the majority of business and pleasure travelers. Servicing most major cities, commercial airports accommodate larger planes and host intranational and international flights.
Try: The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration thoroughly explains what a commercial airport is and how it is unique from other airport types. The Microsoft Corporation encyclopedia talks more about commercial airports.

Hub

A hub is an airport location that a particular airline's flights are routed through in the process of being disbursed to other locations.
Try: For a definition of an airline hub, go to BusinessDictionary.com. Reference this airline hub map of airport locations at AirlineRouteMaps.com.

Hub-and-spoke system

The hub and spoke system of flying between airport locations routes travelers to a central location or hub. From the hub airport, fliers then get on flights to one of the spoke locations.
Try: The Learning Center of the Air Transport Association of America helps travelers understand the hub-and-spoke airport travel system used by certain airlines as a method of routing flights.

International Air Travel Association, IATA

The International Air Travel Association, or IATA, helps to regulate and support airport locations. IATA also assigns each airport with an airport code.
Try: Find Cheap Plane Tickets is a great resource for an explanation of IATA and other airline terminology. Go directly to the International Air Travel Association website for specifics on the organization.

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