Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Why Canada, Y?!?!?!?!?

When I saw the headline to this article, I was hoping it would finally resolve the mystery of why Canadian airport codes all start with the letter "Y." But no. All the Vox piece says about the issue is that Vancouver airport is YVR because "Canadian airport codes start with a 'Y', which is why Vancouver has one before the more predictable VR." Yes, but why do Canadian airports all start with Y?

As far as I can tell, no other country has a letter that begins all of its airport codes. London Heathrow is LHR. Pick another airport in the UK and its code does not necessarily begin with the letter L. (Birmingham Airport, for example, is BHX). Why does Canada have a designated first letter? Riddle me that, Vox!