IATA Code
Jun 9, 2013, 1:52 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Horsham, UK
Programs: BA Silver, Flying Blue Gold
Posts: 363
IATA Code
I've been attempting to find out convincingly what the 'F' of QF in the IATA code stands for.
Lots of airlines are obvious - BA, AA, IB, AF etc. I know Virgin atlantic is VS because the full name is Virgin Atlantic AirwayS and Finnair is AY for 'airline company' in Finnish.
The only conclusions I have come to is that it simpy means 'Flight' or it's to do with Sir Hudson Fysh, as a founder?
Just wondering if anyone actually does know!
I love researching stuff like this - as in Chicago O'Hare is ORD because it was originally called Orchard Field etc.
And while we're at it, why is it QFA for the ICAO code?
Thanks - I'm flying QF next on August 17th in J to SIN
Lots of airlines are obvious - BA, AA, IB, AF etc. I know Virgin atlantic is VS because the full name is Virgin Atlantic AirwayS and Finnair is AY for 'airline company' in Finnish.
The only conclusions I have come to is that it simpy means 'Flight' or it's to do with Sir Hudson Fysh, as a founder?
Just wondering if anyone actually does know!
I love researching stuff like this - as in Chicago O'Hare is ORD because it was originally called Orchard Field etc.
And while we're at it, why is it QFA for the ICAO code?
Thanks - I'm flying QF next on August 17th in J to SIN
Jun 9, 2013, 4:51 pm
#3
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
What an awful way to fly LHR-SIN -- those short legs via DXB turn a pleasant LHR-SIN non-stop into a nightmare. Or if flying from Oz, the SIN services are sub-standard now on QF. In any case nothing like it used to be, so not the best choice no matter what the routing. Perhaps SQ didn't appeal as an IATA code? Or CX for that matter 
Jun 9, 2013, 5:05 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
Programs: QF Plat (Life Gold)
Posts: 1,072
The "F" in QF means the same as the "X" in CX, or the "Q" in SQ, or the "G" in TG, or the "H" in MH etc etc etc...in short, nothing at all. If the "obvious" abbreviation is not available, they just use something arbitrary.
Jun 9, 2013, 10:32 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: QFF
Posts: 5,304
IATA airline codes generally don't mean anything. Most older airlines (such as BA, AA) got "preferred" codes as those codes were available at the time they were assigned.
What did "DJ" have to do with "Virgin Blue"? Nothing.
The only aviation codes that actually mean something are ICAO assigned airport and aircraft codes.
The codes are just that. Something used to identify the "object" it has been assigned to. They don't mean anything.
What did "DJ" have to do with "Virgin Blue"? Nothing.
The only aviation codes that actually mean something are ICAO assigned airport and aircraft codes.
The codes are just that. Something used to identify the "object" it has been assigned to. They don't mean anything.
Jun 9, 2013, 10:49 pm
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
Indeed, what Hi said
Not only that , but codes get reused once freed up such as BR which was the code for British Caledonian and now is code for Eva Air
On top of that there are codes that have numbers in them, such as A8 and B9 and even K9
Some codes do fit in with airline abbreviations and those that got in early may well have had one that nicely matched the airline name
Not only that , but codes get reused once freed up such as BR which was the code for British Caledonian and now is code for Eva Air
On top of that there are codes that have numbers in them, such as A8 and B9 and even K9
Some codes do fit in with airline abbreviations and those that got in early may well have had one that nicely matched the airline name
Jun 10, 2013, 12:04 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP/LTG | UA P
Posts: 13,530
..and closer to home, the old TAA (Trans Australia Airlines) used TN. It was then swallowed into Qantas. Now TN is used by Air Tahiti Nui.
Jun 10, 2013, 12:35 am
#8
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,807
I imagine first come first served? Unless there are more sinister reasons for allocating codes to airlines.
South African Airways (1934) predates Singapore Airlines (1972 as independent entity), so SAA got first divs on SA.
Air China (as CAAC, 1949) got head start on China Airlines (1959) but not Air Canada (1936) so the allocations were AC, CA and CI.
Canadian Pacific (1942) predates Cathay Pacific (1946) so got first divs on CP? I have no idea why Cathay went for the X when P was not available - perhaps the other obvious choice (A?) also became unavailable due to CAAC application so Cathay management thought what the hell? Might also have something to do with one of the founders being from the land of XXXX.
South African Airways (1934) predates Singapore Airlines (1972 as independent entity), so SAA got first divs on SA.
Air China (as CAAC, 1949) got head start on China Airlines (1959) but not Air Canada (1936) so the allocations were AC, CA and CI.
Canadian Pacific (1942) predates Cathay Pacific (1946) so got first divs on CP? I have no idea why Cathay went for the X when P was not available - perhaps the other obvious choice (A?) also became unavailable due to CAAC application so Cathay management thought what the hell? Might also have something to do with one of the founders being from the land of XXXX.
Jun 10, 2013, 1:05 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Australia and Canada
Programs: Qantas FF Plat; Virgin Aust Plat;
Posts: 799
Diversion of topic to airport codes. Doesn't look like these are change-able very easily.
I imagine it must burn up the Chinese no end for Beijing Capital airport to still be 'PEK' and ditto the Indians for Mumbai / BOM.
The Canadians must have been feeling very pure when they agreed for ?all their airports to be in the format Yxx, sometimes with hints of the city involved (YVR - Vancouver), sometimes not (YYZ = Toronto Lester Pearson).
I imagine it must burn up the Chinese no end for Beijing Capital airport to still be 'PEK' and ditto the Indians for Mumbai / BOM.
The Canadians must have been feeling very pure when they agreed for ?all their airports to be in the format Yxx, sometimes with hints of the city involved (YVR - Vancouver), sometimes not (YYZ = Toronto Lester Pearson).
Jun 10, 2013, 1:26 am
#10
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,807
Diversion of topic to airport codes. Doesn't look like these are change-able very easily.
I imagine it must burn up the Chinese no end for Beijing Capital airport to still be 'PEK' and ditto the Indians for Mumbai / BOM.
The Canadians must have been feeling very pure when they agreed for ?all their airports to be in the format Yxx, sometimes with hints of the city involved (YVR - Vancouver), sometimes not (YYZ = Toronto Lester Pearson).
I imagine it must burn up the Chinese no end for Beijing Capital airport to still be 'PEK' and ditto the Indians for Mumbai / BOM.
The Canadians must have been feeling very pure when they agreed for ?all their airports to be in the format Yxx, sometimes with hints of the city involved (YVR - Vancouver), sometimes not (YYZ = Toronto Lester Pearson).
Personally I agree with IATA's names more than the new names imposed by governments trying to be politically correct.
Jun 10, 2013, 1:33 am
#11
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,807
But if I'm using my first-come-first-served theory, no one is likely to have beaten Qantas to QA (or QN or QE)...unless Qantas didn't want them (Qantas really wanted Qantas Flight as first div)
Found this website on IATA historical codes search: http://www.avcodes.co.uk/airlcodesearch.asp
Found this website on IATA historical codes search: http://www.avcodes.co.uk/airlcodesearch.asp
Jun 11, 2013, 1:33 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Australia and Canada
Programs: Qantas FF Plat; Virgin Aust Plat;
Posts: 799