What does BNA stand for? BNA is the three-letter code for Nashville International Airport in Tennessee, and the letters come from its original name, Berry Field Nashville. The airport was called Berry Field when it opened in the 1930s, after Harry S. Berry, a state official who oversaw the federal works program that helped build it.
That is why the code does not start with N, as many travelers expect. You see BNA on boarding passes, bag tags, flight boards and ride share pickup screens, and many locals simply call the airport "B N A" in conversation.
Quick facts
Stands for
Berry Field NashvilleAirport
Nashville International Airport, TennesseeType
IATA airport codeHow to say it
B N APilot code
KBNASeen on
Tickets, bag tags, flight boards, travel appsNot to be confused with
BWI, BUF and other airport codes
What does BNA airport stand for, letter by letter?
| Letter | Word | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| B | Berry | Harry S. Berry, the official honored by the original name |
| N | Nashville | First letter of the city the airport serves |
| A | Nashville | Second letter of the city name |
So the code reads as Berry field, NAshville, with the N and A both taken from the city name. The B is the key letter: it keeps the memory of Berry Field alive long after the airport changed its official name. Some people guess the A means airport, which is an easy way to remember it, but the usual account takes it from Nashville.
What does BNA stand for if the city starts with N?
Airport codes are assigned by IATA, the International Air Transport Association, and each one must be unique worldwide. Many airports kept codes based on old names, or picked other letters because the obvious ones were taken. Nashville's code came from Berry Field and never changed.
The same thing happened at other U.S. airports. Codes often keep a trace of a former name, a nearby town or an old military field. See LAX for another code with an interesting story, and browse our hub of country, city and airport codes for more.
Where you will see BNA
- On a boarding pass, next to the departure or arrival time
- On the tag attached to a checked bag
- On departure boards at other airports, under the destination
- In search boxes on travel sites, where typing BNA brings up Nashville flights
- On ride share and taxi apps when you set a pickup spot
Bag tag: A sticker on your suitcase reads "BNA." That means the bag should end up at Nashville, so check it before you leave the counter, especially if you have a connection.
BNA, KBNA and other codes for the same place
Airports usually have two codes. The three-letter IATA code, BNA, is the one passengers see. The four-letter ICAO code, KBNA, is used by pilots, air traffic control and flight planning systems. In the lower 48 states, most ICAO codes are simply the IATA code with a K in front.
A third short form, the city name itself, appears on many flight boards. You may see "Nashville" and "BNA" side by side, which is meant to help travelers who do not know the code.
Other meanings of BNA
Travelers mean the airport nearly every time, but BNA has a few other uses:
- The Bureau of National Affairs, a long running publisher of legal, tax and business news in the United States
- In some workplaces, "business needs analysis," a planning document
Context makes it clear. If the text mentions flights, gates or Tennessee, it is the airport.
Saying and writing BNA
Each letter gets its own beat: "B N A." Keep all three uppercase, with no dots. It takes "a" when an article is needed, as in "a BNA departure." Most travelers simply say "flying into BNA." More about how short forms are read appears in acronym vs abbreviation.
Questions people ask
What is BNA airport stand for?
BNA is the code for Nashville International Airport. The letters come from Berry Field Nashville, the airport's first name.
Why is Nashville airport called BNA?
It opened as Berry Field, named for Harry S. Berry. The code was based on that name and kept after the airport was renamed.
Is BNA the same as Nashville International Airport?
Yes. BNA is simply the code, while Nashville International Airport is the full official name.
What is KBNA?
KBNA is the four-letter ICAO code for the same airport. Pilots and air traffic control use it, while passengers see BNA.
How do locals say BNA?
Most people say the letters, "B N A," or just call it the Nashville airport.