Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Destinations > Americas > Canada
Reload this Page >

Why is it "Y--"?

Community
Wiki Posts
Search

Why is it "Y--"?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 2, 2006 | 7:06 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: QLA
Programs: SBUX Gold
Posts: 14,508
Why is it "Y--"?

Something has been bugging me for a while, so I hope y'all have the answer...

I've come to the conclusion that Canada has made the decision to have the 1st letter of all its airports start with "Y"... but why?

Another thing... given the above, I understand YVR for VancouveR and YOW for OttaWa... but why YYZ for Toronto, YEG for Edmonton, and YUL for Montreal?
IceTrojan is offline  
Old Feb 2, 2006 | 7:10 pm
  #2  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
2M
50 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,626
Originally Posted by IceTrojan
Something has been bugging me for a while, so I hope y'all have the answer...

I've come to the conclusion that Canada has made the decision to have the 1st letter of all its airports start with "Y"... but why?

Another thing... given the above, I understand YVR for VancouveR and YOW for OttaWa... but why YYZ for Toronto, YEG for Edmonton, and YUL for Montreal?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...adian+airports
This link is to a thread that will bring you to the most informative thread, which is this one:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=439919
yyznomad is offline  
Old Feb 2, 2006 | 7:23 pm
  #3  
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: YYZ at this time
Programs: ACMM / Altitude S100K / HH Diamond
Posts: 6,285
There are always many discussions as to the origins ... here is another on a non-FT site:

http://www.avcanada.ca/forums2/viewt...=airport+codes


A more generic discussion can be found at:

http://www.skygod.com/asstd/abc.html
PreferBulkhead is offline  
Old Feb 2, 2006 | 7:26 pm
  #4  
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: QLA
Programs: SBUX Gold
Posts: 14,508
Originally Posted by yyznomad
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...adian+airports
This link is to a thread that will bring you to the most informative thread, which is this one:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=439919
D'oh! Many thanks... I tried about 3 searches, but I was at a loss as to what terms to use.

Wow... now I know WAY too much about Canadian airport codes

But it seems no one knows about "YYZ"
IceTrojan is offline  
Old Feb 2, 2006 | 7:28 pm
  #5  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
2M
50 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,626
Originally Posted by IceTrojan
D'oh! Many thanks... I tried about 3 searches, but I was at a loss as to what terms to use.

Wow... now I know WAY too much about Canadian airport codes

But it seems no one knows about "YYZ"
For the search I used "Canadian airports".
yyznomad is offline  
Old Feb 2, 2006 | 7:30 pm
  #6  
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: QLA
Programs: SBUX Gold
Posts: 14,508
Originally Posted by yyznomad
For the search I used "Canadian airports".
I was way over thinking it... I even tried to use "Why YYZ YOW YEG" etc, figuring if the question was asked, all the airports would be listed

Well, thanks for not flaming me.... I've come to expect it in the AA forum
IceTrojan is offline  
Old Feb 2, 2006 | 7:32 pm
  #7  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
2M
50 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,626
Originally Posted by IceTrojan
I was way over thinking it... I even tried to use "Why YYZ YOW YEG" etc, figuring if the question was asked, all the airports would be listed

Well, thanks for not flaming me.... I've come to expect it in the AA forum
You can thank PB for me not flaming you Normally I do.
yyznomad is offline  
Old Feb 2, 2006 | 7:43 pm
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: YYC
Programs: Airmiles; Aeroplan; TripRewards; Best Western GCC
Posts: 404
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=439919
Canada Flyer is offline  
Old Feb 2, 2006 | 7:45 pm
  #9  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
2M
50 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,626
Originally Posted by Canada Flyer
Umm.. sorry but you're a few posts too late
yyznomad is offline  
Old Feb 2, 2006 | 7:46 pm
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: YYC
Programs: Airmiles; Aeroplan; TripRewards; Best Western GCC
Posts: 404
Originally Posted by yyznomad
Umm.. sorry but you're a few posts too late
Oh, sory 'bout that. :-)
Canada Flyer is offline  
Old Feb 2, 2006 | 7:48 pm
  #11  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
2M
50 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,626
Originally Posted by Canada Flyer
Oh, sory 'bout that. :-)
No problem I give you kudos for trying (impressive for noob!) ^
yyznomad is offline  
Old Feb 2, 2006 | 8:09 pm
  #12  
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: YYZ at this time
Programs: ACMM / Altitude S100K / HH Diamond
Posts: 6,285
Did you refill your kudo supply?
PreferBulkhead is offline  
Old Feb 3, 2006 | 12:15 am
  #13  
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: QLA
Programs: SBUX Gold
Posts: 14,508
Originally Posted by Canada Flyer
Oh, sory 'bout that. :-)
Shouldn't it be "Oh, sorry 'boot that"
IceTrojan is offline  
Old Feb 3, 2006 | 4:15 pm
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: YYC
Programs: Airmiles; Aeroplan; TripRewards; Best Western GCC
Posts: 404



Originally Posted by IceTrojan
Shouldn't it be "Oh, sorry 'boot that"
You all are too funny. Or should it be "ya'll"? I shouldn't say anything, I do say "ya'll" quite a bit.

Canada Flyer

Last edited by Canada Flyer; Feb 3, 2006 at 4:17 pm
Canada Flyer is offline  
Old Oct 31, 2006 | 4:43 pm
  #15  
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,835
Not all Canadian airports... ZBB (CZBB) is one of the 10 busiest airports (in terms of movements) in Canada. Add CXH as another Vancouver airport with regularly scheduled flights without a Y. (and both of those aerodromes are large enough to have a control tower).

Note that some US airports start with a Y. YKM = YaKiMa, Washington

Some of the codes sometimes make more sense if you know the local area well. Example YCD = Nanaimo, but if you knew it was in CassiDy, south of town it makes more sense.

A quick google search should uncover more history, but at least to translate an IATA code (travel agent code) to a aviation code in north america you just add a C for Canada or K for the USA.

http://www.skygod.com/asstd/abc.html has a lot more details on the subject
CZBB is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.