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India wants to ditch ‘offensive’ airport code
A Parliamentary panel called on the Indian government to change the ‘GAY’ airport code for Gaya International Airport.
It asked government officials to take it up with the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
As Gaya is a holy city, they deemed it ‘inappropriate.’
They want it replaced and suggested an alternative code such as ‘YAG’.
Under IATA rules, there needs to be a ‘justifiable reason related to air safety’ to authorise a change.
"The GAY code for Gaya has been in use since the operationalisation of this airport, therefore, without any justifiable reason primarily concerning air safety, IATA has expressed its inability to change the code of Gaya airport," the aviation ministry told the panel.
According to local media, committee members also described the code as ‘offensive and embarrassing.’
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