Air Transport Association Codes and Special Passenger Requirements

International Air Transport Association (IATA)

IATA is the International Air Transport Association, a trade association for the world’s airlines. It promotes cooperation, safety, reliability, confidence, and economy in air transport, benefiting its private shareholders.

• IATA represents 290 airlines, accounting for 82% of worldwide air traffic.
• It was established in 1945 in Havana, Cuba.
• IATA seeks common solutions for industry problems that individual airlines cannot solve alone.

IATA Airport and Airline Codes

• IATA Airport Codes: These are 3-letter codes used to designate airports worldwide.
• Cities with multiple airports also have a specific code to designate the city itself (e.g., NYC for New York City).
• Airline Designators:
  • IATA codes (2 letters)
  • ICAO codes (3 letters)

ICAO Phonetic Alphabet

The ICAO Phonetic Alphabet is used to ensure that messages conveyed by pilots over the radio are clearly understood, thereby avoiding misunderstandings during critical communications.

Air Passenger Categories and Special Requirements

Passenger Status by Age

• Infant (NS - No Seat): Travels without a dedicated seat. While usually not required to purchase a ticket, airport taxes must be paid. Infants are assigned specific seats (e.g., 180 + 4 infants) and are not permitted in emergency exit rows, as they require extra oxygen masks. The status NS (No Seat) appears on their ticket.
• Child: Up to 12 or 16 years old, depending on the specific airline policy. Children are not permitted to sit in emergency rows.
• Adult: Standard passenger status.

Unaccompanied Minors (UM) Service

The UM service provides an escort for children traveling alone, typically aged 5 to 12 or 14 years, depending on the company.

To be accepted on the flight, strict procedures must be followed:

1. The minor's tutors must sign a disclaimer detailing the minor, the person accompanying them to the airport, and the person designated to pick them up at the destination.
2. Guardians must remain at the airport until the flight departs. They accompany the minor to the boarding gate and wait for ground staff to confirm that the flight has taken off.
3. From the moment of boarding, the minor is monitored by airline staff (usually the boarding agent on the ground and a flight attendant or cabin crew member during the flight).
4. At the destination airport, the ground staff verifies that the identity of the person receiving the UM coincides exactly with the data provided on the copy of the disclaimer carried by the minor.

Pregnant Passengers: Flying Restrictions

Restrictions for pregnant women traveling by air are based on the stage of pregnancy:

• Up to Week 27: Allowed to fly with no medical certificate required.
• Week 28 to 35: A medical certificate (known as FIT TO FLY) is mandatory. This letter from the doctor must specify the validity period, the doctor's registration number, and their signature.
• Week 36 or Beyond: NOT ALLOWED to fly due to the significant risk of delivering on board.

Group Travel Procedures

Passengers traveling in groups utilize specific counters to facilitate the group check-in process and avoid obstructing the flow of other passengers.

Key procedures:

• Baggage must be checked-in individually. This is necessary to locate specific luggage if one member decides not to travel.
• Airlines attempt to assign seats together for the group.

Passengers with Reduced Mobility (PRM)

PRM refers to passengers who require special attention due to a disability (physical, sensory, or mobility, permanent or temporary), mental impairment, age, or any other cause of disability. This category also includes passengers who have serious difficulties understanding emergency instructions.

Important Note: PRM passengers are NOT permitted to occupy emergency exit seats.

PRM passengers are entitled to free assistance:

• While getting on and off the plane.
• During the flight.
• In airports before and after the flight.

The responsibility for providing this assistance falls on both companies and airports, as mandated by the 2008 European Regulation.