In the bustling world of aviation, where journeys span continents and skies are highways, there exists a cryptic language that unites travelers and aviation professionals alike: airport codes. These three-letter combinations adorn boarding passes, luggage tags, and departure boards, serving as concise identifiers for the multitude of airports worldwide. Yet, behind their seemingly random assortment of letters lies a fascinating tapestry of history, geography, and industry conventions.   The Origin Story: To understand airport codes, we must journey back to the early days of aviation. As air travel burgeoned in the 1930s, the need for a standardized system to identify airports became apparent. Initially, airports were denoted by two-letter codes, established by the National Weather Service for use in weather reports. However, as air traffic expanded globally, these codes proved insufficient.   In 1947, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) introduced ...