What IATA number means
The IATA number, formally the IATA Numeric Code, is how the airline industry recognises an accredited agency. Accreditation gives an agency the right to issue tickets through the BSP; the code is what links every one of those sales back to a specific office. IATA's June 2026 fact sheet on its agency programme lists a unique numeric agent identifier among the benefits of accreditation.
The format is set in Resolution 822 of the Passenger Agency Conference. It combines a two-digit geographical designator, a one-digit area designator, a four-digit location designator and a final check digit. The check digit is worked out from the first seven digits on an unweighted modulus-seven basis, which lets systems catch most typing errors. On automated documents the separators are dropped, so the code normally appears as a single eight-digit string.
Codes belong to locations rather than to companies. The resolution allocates one to each approved location of an IATA agent, and on request to airline sales offices, the ticketing offices of general sales agents and certain airport handling agents. A move to a new address or a change of category can mean the old code is withdrawn and a new one issued.
An IATA number should not be confused with the IATA codes for airlines and airports, or with a TIDS code. TIDS gives non-accredited sellers an identifier for supplier recognition, but it does not allow BSP ticketing.
How IATA number works
The code follows the agency from accreditation through every ticket it issues and every billing it receives.
- Accreditation is approvedThe agency meets the local requirements for its chosen NewGen ISS model and IATA approves the location. The numeric code is allocated as part of that approval.
- A code is allocated per locationIATA allocates an eight-digit code to the approved location. Branches that are approved locations in their own right receive their own codes.
- The code is loaded into booking systemsThe agency's GDS offices and airline NDC or portal accounts are linked to the code, so tickets and EMDs issued there carry it automatically.
- Sales are reported under the codeEach document issued is reported to the BSP against the code. Billings, refunds and memos such as ADMs are addressed to that location.
- Suppliers check the codeAirlines, hotel groups and other suppliers can validate the code against IATA records, for example through IATA's CheckACode service, before granting access or paying commission.
IATA number in practice
Illustrative format only, not a real agency: a code written in full as 96-2 0123 2 appears on a ticket as 96201232. The first two digits are the geographical designator, the third is the area designator, the next four identify the location and the last is the check digit.
Illustrative case: an agency group in Dubai has a head office and two accredited branches. Each location holds its own IATA number, so BSP billings, refunds and ADMs arrive separately for each office, and the head office can see which branch issued a disputed ticket.
When a hotel chain or car rental company asks an agency for its IATA number to set up commission, it can check the code in CheckACode. IATA's free evaluation edition returns the agency name and country; the paid edition adds details such as agency class, address and approval date.
Who uses it
Advantages and limitations
Advantages
- One code identifies an agency location consistently across airlines, GDSs, BSP and many non-air suppliers.
- The check digit helps systems reject mistyped codes before they cause reporting errors.
- Location-level codes let multi-branch agencies track sales, refunds and memos office by office.
- Suppliers can verify a code with IATA instead of relying on documents supplied by the agency.
Limitations
- The code proves accreditation status, not creditworthiness or the size of the business behind it.
- A change of address or legal entity can trigger a new code, so systems and contracts must be updated.
- Each branch with its own code adds separate billings and remittance tasks to manage.
- Sharing or lending a code to an unaccredited seller breaches IATA rules and exposes the holder to ADMs and default action.
Frequently asked questions about IATA number
How many digits does an IATA number have?
A full IATA agency numeric code has eight digits: two for the geographical area, one for the area designator, four for the location and a final check digit. IATA's CheckACode tool accepts passenger agency codes entered in 7 or 8-digit form, while cargo agency codes are longer, at 11 or 12 digits.
How can I verify a travel agency's IATA number?
Use IATA's CheckACode service. Its free evaluation edition confirms whether a passenger agency code is valid and shows the agency name and country, and the professional edition adds class, address and approval date. Airlines and larger suppliers often connect to CheckACode by API so codes are checked automatically during onboarding.
Does each branch of a travel agency need its own IATA number?
IATA allocates codes to approved locations, so a branch that is accredited as its own location receives its own code. This keeps BSP billings, refunds and memos separate for each office. Agencies that do not want separate locations should discuss the structure with IATA before applying, as the rules depend on the market.
Can an agency keep its IATA number after moving office?
Not always. Under the Passenger Agency Conference rules, a change of location or category can lead IATA to withdraw the existing code and allocate a new one. Agencies planning a move or a change of ownership should notify IATA first and update GDS, airline and supplier records once the outcome is known.
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