How to Search Airports Using IATA Codes in TravelAnimator
TravelAnimator now allows you to search airports directly using their IATA airport codes, making flight route creation faster and more precise than ever before.
If you’ve ever tried to create a flight animation and had to type the full airport name like Dubai International Airport instead of simply typing DXB, you know how time-consuming that can feel. Frequent flyers, travel creators, aviation enthusiasts, and travel planners often remember airport codes more easily than full names.
With this new update, you can now enter an airport’s three-letter IATA code directly into the TravelAnimator search bar, and the app will instantly recognize and display the correct airport location.
In this guide, you’ll learn what IATA codes are, how the new airport code search works, when to use it, and how it improves your flight route animations in TravelAnimator.
What Is an Airport IATA Code?
An IATA code is a three-letter airport identifier assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). These codes are used worldwide by airlines, travel agencies, booking platforms, and passengers.
For example:
- DXB – Dubai International Airport
- JFK – John F. Kennedy International Airport
- LHR – London Heathrow Airport
- SIN – Singapore Changi Airport
DEL – Indira Gandhi International Airport
These short codes are commonly seen on flight tickets, boarding passes, baggage tags, airline websites, and airport displays. Because they are short and standardized globally, IATA codes are often easier to remember than full airport names. Now, TravelAnimator supports searching by these codes directly.
What’s New in TravelAnimator: Airport Code Search
Previously, users had to search airports by city name, full airport name, coordinates, Google Maps links, or GPX files. With the new update, you can now type an airport’s IATA code directly in the search bar, instantly see the corresponding airport location, and add it to your route without typing long names
For example:
- Typing DXB shows Dubai International Airport
- Typing LAX shows Los Angeles International Airport
- Typing CDG shows Charles de Gaulle Airport
This update is especially helpful for users who frequently travel by air, create aviation content, work with airline route data, and plan international trips. The airport code search works directly in the same search bar you already use for destinations, so there is no separate feature to enable.
Step-by-Step: How to Search an Airport by IATA Code in TravelAnimator
1.Open the TravelAnimator app and open an existing project or create a new travel animation.
2. Tap Add Locations to add a starting and an end point, or tap the + icon if it has already started and an end location.
3. Tap on the Starting Point or Add Destination field. Then type the three-letter airport code (for example: DXB, JFK, LHR, SIN).
4. The correct airport will appear in the search results. Tap it to add it to your route.
5. Continue Building Your Route by adding another airport with a different IATA code, or add cities manually.
6. Tap preview to see your route animation between selected airports and cities.
7. Customize the animation using all the available features before exporting.
When Should You Use an IATA Code Search in TravelAnimator?
- IATA code search is especially helpful when you already know the airport code but do not remember or want to type the full airport name.
- It becomes useful when you frequently create flight animations and want to add airports quickly without manually searching each one.
- It is ideal for users who work with airline schedules or flight booking confirmations where airports are listed only by their three-letter codes.
- It helps when you are recreating real airline routes and want your animated flight path to match actual airport connections accurately.
- It is practical when building multi-country travel recap videos that involve several international airports.
- It saves time while planning or animating international itineraries that include long or complex airport names.
- For example, if your route is DXB to SIN to SYD to LAX, typing the airport codes is much faster and more efficient than manually entering each full airport name.
- Using IATA codes also reduces spelling mistakes, especially when dealing with long international airport names, ensuring faster and more accurate route creation.
How IATA Search Improves Flight Route Animations in TravelAnimator
- Faster Workflow – Instead of typing long airport names, you can enter short three-letter codes, which saves time when building multi-stop routes.
- Better Accuracy – Using standardized airport codes reduces the chances of selecting the wrong city or airport with similar names.
- Ideal for Aviation Content – Aviation enthusiasts and creators often think in airport codes. Using IATA codes makes route creation feel more natural and professional.
- Cleaner Planning – When working with airline route lists or travel plans written in airport codes, you can copy and paste codes directly into TravelAnimator.
- Professional Flight Route Creation – When paired with a plane model, 3D globe view, Route line customization, and Place label styling, IATA search helps create realistic and polished flight route animations.
Common Questions About Airport Code Search
- Does this work for all airports?
Major international airports are supported. Some smaller regional airports may depend on available mapping data.
- Do I need a Pro subscription to use this feature?
No. Airport IATA code search works in the standard search bar and does not require a special subscription.
- Can I mix IATA codes with city searches?
Yes. You can combine Airport codes, City names, and Coordinates in a single animation route.
- Does using IATA codes change the map labels?
The airport will be added correctly. You can still customize place labels separately using the label editing feature.
Create Faster and More Accurate Flight Routes with TravelAnimator
The new airport IATA code search feature in TravelAnimator simplifies how you build flight routes. By allowing direct airport code entry in the search bar, the app removes unnecessary steps and speeds up your animation workflow. Instead of typing long airport names, you can now search using the same codes seen on boarding passes and airline schedules. It’s a small update with a powerful impact for travelers, creators, and aviation enthusiasts.
Open TravelAnimator, type your next airport code, and start building accurate flight route animations in seconds.
