'GAY' Airport Row: From 'FUK' To 'PEE'; Look At Odd & Unusual Codes In The World

When it comes to air travel, airport codes might seem like boring technical jargon, but sometimes, they raise eyebrows or even laughter. One such code recently caught political attention in India, as a BJP MP urged authorities to change the IATA code "GAY" for Gaya International Airport in Bihar, citing it as culturally inappropriate.

Responding in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol clarified that IATA codes, once assigned, are permanent and only changed in rare cases concerning air safety. He added that these three-letter identifiers are typically derived from the airport’s location and used globally across ticketing, baggage handling, and air traffic systems.

The Gaya code isn't the only one to cause a stir. Across the globe, there are several unintentionally hilarious or odd airport codes that travellers have noticed and sometimes giggled over. From "FUK" in Japan to "PEE" in Russia, here's a round-up of real airport codes that sound like anything but business as usual:

Odd and unusual airport codes around the world

GAY – Gaya International Airport, India

COK – Kochi International Airport, India

FUK – Fukuoka Airport, Japan

BUM – Butler Memorial Airport, USA

CAT – Cascais Municipal Aerodrome, Portugal

POO – Pocos De Caldas Airport, Brazil

MAD – Madrid Airport, Spain

DIK – Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport, USA

OMG – Omega Airport, Namibia

YUM – Yuma International Airport, USA

PEE – Perm International Airport, Russia

SUX – Sioux Gateway Airport, USA

DOG – Dongola Airport, Sudan

HOG – Frank Pais Airport, Cuba

DAD – Da Nang Airport, Vietnam