Tools · Airport Code
Cargo airport code lookup.
Search cargo airports worldwide by IATA code, ICAO code, airport name, city, or country. Freight quotes and air waybills use the three-letter IATA code; flight systems use the four-letter ICAO code.
Source: OurAirports open data. Snapshot 2026-08-03; 3,269 large and medium airports with scheduled service. The lookup includes fields with an IATA code and scheduled service.
Use it carefully
IATA and ICAO codes serve different jobs.
Freight quotes and air waybills usually use the three-letter IATA code. Operational and flight systems may also use the four-letter ICAO code.
Freight planning guide
How to use airport codes in an air-freight quote
Airport codes identify the planned gateway, but a three-letter result is not the whole route. A usable air-freight request also states the city, service scope, cargo profile, ready date, and final delivery point.
Know when a quote needs IATA or ICAO
The three-letter IATA code is the code most often shown on commercial air-freight quotations, routing instructions, baggage systems, and air waybills. The four-letter ICAO code is used mainly for flight operations and air-traffic systems. This lookup shows both where available so that similarly named airports can be distinguished, but the booking instruction should follow the carrier or forwarder's required format.
Search by city or airport name when the code is unknown, then verify the result against the country and full airport name. Large metropolitan areas can have several airports, and not every passenger airport is a practical cargo gateway. The cheapest or nearest code may not support the required airline, freighter, dangerous-goods acceptance, handling equipment, customs process, or onward trucking schedule.
Turn the gateway into a complete shipment scope
State whether the quotation is airport-to-airport, door-to-airport, airport-to-door, or door-to-door. An airport-to-airport rate normally excludes origin pickup and destination delivery and may exclude terminal, screening, customs, documentation, storage, and other local charges. Ask the forwarder to list inclusions so two quotations using the same airport pair can be compared on the same basis.
Provide package-level dimensions, gross weight, quantity, commodity, cargo-ready date, and requested arrival date. The forwarder needs these details to determine chargeable weight, aircraft compatibility, service level, and capacity. Oversized pieces may fit a cargo aircraft but not a passenger aircraft door or handling system, even when total weight looks acceptable.
Call out restricted or sensitive cargo before the route is selected. Batteries, liquids, chemicals, magnets, temperature-controlled goods, valuable cargo, and products subject to permits can change the feasible airline and airport. Confirm the final gateway again on the booking and air waybill; a city name alone is not precise enough when several codes serve the region.
Details to send with an airport pair
- Write the origin and destination using code, airport name, city, and country.
- Specify the pickup and delivery addresses if the service extends beyond the airports.
- Add every package's dimensions and gross weight so chargeable weight can be checked.
- Describe the goods and flag handling, temperature, security, battery, or permit requirements.
Plan your shipment
Turn the result into a shipping plan.
For an urgent shipment, calculate chargeable weight before comparing air freight and express courier options. Carrier acceptance and the receiving deadline determine the workable service.
For Amazon deliveries, review the FBA preparation workflow. For other receiving locations, define the door-to-door delivery scope as part of your e-commerce logistics plan.
Prepare the remaining inputs with the shipping guide, compare freight solutions, and bring the result to the China freight forwarding team. For more detailed explanations, browse the logistics articles.
What is the difference between IATA and ICAO airport codes?
IATA codes contain three letters and are commonly used in commercial booking, quotations, routing instructions, and air waybills. ICAO codes contain four letters and mainly support operational and flight systems. An airport may have both. For a freight request, use the code format requested by the airline or forwarder and include the airport name.
Does every airport with an IATA code handle international cargo?
No. An IATA code identifies a location but does not guarantee suitable cargo service. Airline network, customs facilities, operating hours, aircraft type, handling equipment, security, dangerous-goods acceptance, and onward trucking can all affect feasibility. Ask the forwarder to confirm the live gateway for the exact commodity, piece size, and destination scope.
What does an airport-to-airport freight rate include?
It generally covers the main air movement between named gateways, but inclusions vary. Pickup, export handling, screening, documentation, terminal fees, customs clearance, storage, duties, and final delivery may be separate. Request an itemized scope and compare quotations on the same Incoterm, chargeable weight, airport pair, and service level.
Can I choose a nearby airport to reduce air-freight cost?
Possibly, if the saving exceeds the added trucking, handling, customs, and time costs. A different gateway may offer stronger capacity or lower rates but create a longer pre-carriage or final-mile leg. Compare the complete door-to-door option, cargo acceptance, cutoff, flight frequency, and delivery deadline rather than the airport-to-airport rate alone.
Need the result checked against a real shipment?
Share the cargo, lane, and target date. One agent will turn the planning input into a workable freight scope.