Learn why Los Angeles International Airport is called LAX, what the X means, how the code arose and when to use LAX versus KLAX.
Los Angeles International Airport is called LAX because its original two-letter identifier was LA. When US airport codes expanded to three letters, an X was added as a filler, creating LAX. The X does not mean “international”; LAX is the airport code, while the formal name remains Los Angeles International Airport.
What does the X in LAX stand for?
The X does not stand for a word. It was simply a padding character used when older two-letter weather-station and airport identifiers were adapted to a three-letter system. LA needed one more character, so it became LAX.
In aviation and real-world flying, LAX is an identifier rather than an acronym for the airport’s full name. Travellers, airlines and local residents use the code as a convenient short name, which is why the airport is commonly “called LAX”.
When did Los Angeles Airport become LAX?
The LAX identifier emerged during the aviation industry’s transition to three-letter airport codes in the 1940s, with the change commonly dated to 1947.
- 1928: The airport site opened as Mines Field.
- 1941: It became Los Angeles Airport.
- 1947: The two-letter LA identifier was extended to LAX.
- 1949: The airport received its present name, Los Angeles International Airport.
This sequence also shows why the X does not mean “international”: the LAX identifier was established before the present name was adopted.
Are LAX and KLAX the same airport?
LAX and KLAX identify the same airport, but they belong to different coding systems.
| Code | System | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| LAX | IATA | Tickets, baggage tags, airline timetables and passenger information |
| LAX | FAA location identifier | US aviation records and domestic charting |
| KLAX | ICAO | Flight plans, weather reports, operational data and simulator databases |
The K is the ICAO regional prefix used for airports in the contiguous United States. Adding K to an IATA code works for many US airports, but it is not a universal conversion rule; Alaska, Hawaii and other countries use different ICAO prefixes, and some airports have mismatched identifiers. Our searchable world airport database can be used to confirm the correct code before planning a flight.
Do pilots say LAX on the radio?
Pilots and controllers normally use “Los Angeles” in routine radio calls, as in “Los Angeles Tower”. The public code is pronounced letter by letter as “L-A-X”; if it must be spelt phonetically, it is “Lima Alpha X-ray”.
Should I enter LAX or KLAX in a flight simulator?
In a flight simulator, enter KLAX when a field asks for an ICAO identifier, and use LAX when it asks for an IATA or FAA code. Flight-planning tools and scenery libraries commonly favour ICAO identifiers, making KLAX the more reliable search term.
A mistake we see regularly is searching add-ons only for LAX and overlooking packages catalogued under KLAX. For example, our Los Angeles scenery package for FSX and Prepar3D is associated with the simulator-facing KLAX identifier. If one form produces no result, try the other or search for the full airport name.