ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

International Civil Aviation Organization airport code

Okay kiddo, have you ever been on an airplane? And have you noticed the letters on your ticket and the signs at the airport that say things like "LAX" or "JFK"? Well, those are the airport codes.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is like a group of grown-ups who make sure that airplanes can fly safely all around the world. And one important thing they do is assign each airport its own unique code made up of three letters.

This is important because when airplanes talk to each other, the pilots and air traffic controllers use these codes to make sure everyone knows exactly which airport they are talking about. It's kind of like how you use names to know which person you are talking to - but for airplanes!

So the next time you see those letters on your ticket or on a sign at the airport, remember that they are like special nicknames for each airport so everyone can talk about them easily and safely!