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
