The call signs doubled as Morse code transmissions for pilots to use a navigational beacon to locate the airport.

These two-letter indicators tied to the local weather towers were often situated in locations that housed airports along with radio stations. Prior to the formation of the IATA, International Air Transport Authority, (which just so happens to be headquartered in Montréal), Canada identified its weather towers with two-letter call signs. So how and why did they come up with these confusing airport code identifiers? The story is just as complicated as the codes themselves, but like most things in Canada it all comes down to the weather. Canadian Airport Codes Explainedįrom Halifax, which is YHZ, to Saskatoon’s YXE, and Toronto’s two airports that will leave you scratching your head (YYZ and YTZ), it’s easy to get befuddled when figuring out which Canadian airport is which. While there are a handful of cities with strange airport codes, many which I’ve explained here, there’s something unique about Canadian airports – they all seem to start with the letter Y. Montreal isn't the only Canadian city that doesn't seem to match up with its three-letter identifier. Montreal? Enter MON or MTL and… and… hmm, what’s up with that, eh? YUL soon find out that the international's code for Montreal’s main airport, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, doesn’t even start with the letter M. How about Miami? Punch in MIA and you’re good to go. Looking for a flight to Amsterdam? Start typing AMS and you'll see the airport pop right up in the search field.

Airport city codes