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Hans India
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Government Explains Why Gaya Airport's 'GAY' Code Cannot Be Changed Despite BJP MP's Concerns
The government has addressed parliamentary concerns about the International Air Transport Association code 'GAY' assigned to Gaya International Airport in Bihar, explaining why such identifiers cannot be easily modified despite cultural sensitivities. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol provided a detailed response in the Rajya Sabha after BJP member Bhim Singh questioned whether the airport code was socially and culturally inappropriate, causing discomfort among travelers and local communities. According to the minister's written statement, three-letter airport codes designated by the International Air Transport Association serve as permanent identifiers for aviation facilities worldwide. These codes are typically derived from the first three letters of the location where the airport operates, making 'GAY' a logical designation for Gaya. Mohol emphasized that these internationally recognized identifiers are integral to global aviation operations, facilitating airport identification across multiple travel-related systems and commercial processes. The codes are issued specifically at the request of airline operators and become embedded in worldwide aviation infrastructure. The minister revealed that previous attempts have been made to modify the Gaya airport code, with both the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority of India receiving formal requests for changes. Air India had previously approached the International Air Transport Association seeking an alternative designation for the Bihar facility. However, international aviation authorities rejected the modification request, citing established protocols that treat assigned codes as permanent fixtures. Under IATA Resolution 763, three-letter airport identifiers can only be altered in exceptional circumstances, typically involving direct air safety concerns that pose risks to aviation operations. The government's response clarifies that while cultural sensitivities are understood, international aviation standards prioritize operational consistency and safety protocols over local preferences. The standardized system ensures global aviation networks can function efficiently without confusion or operational disruptions caused by frequent code changes. The parliamentary exchange highlights the tension between local cultural considerations and international operational requirements in aviation management. Despite ongoing concerns from some quarters about the appropriateness of the current designation, the government's hands appear tied by international aviation regulations and established protocols. This situation reflects broader challenges faced by countries when local sensitivities conflict with internationally standardized systems that require consistency across global operations. The permanent nature of these codes underscores the complexity of international aviation coordination and the difficulty of accommodating regional preferences within established global frameworks.
The Hindu
06-08-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
BJP MP raises concerns over Gaya airport code ‘GAY'; Govt says airport codes considered permanent
A BJP member in Rajya Sabha has raised concerns about 'GAY' as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) identifier code for Gaya international airport in Bihar. In response, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, in a written reply, said the three-letter airport codes once assigned are considered permanent and are altered only under exceptional circumstances, usually involving air safety concerns. The three-letter airport codes, also known as IATA location identifiers, are assigned by the International Air Transport Association to facilitate identification of airports across various travel-related systems and processes. These codes are generally assigned using the first three letters of the location's name where the airport is situated, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mr. Mohol said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Monday (August 4, 2025). He also mentioned that requests for changing the code of Gaya have been received in the past by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports Authority of India. 'IATA location codes are primarily intended for commercial airline operations and are issued at the request of airline operators. Air India had earlier approached IATA seeking a change of the existing airport code. However, IATA has conveyed that under the provisions of IATA Resolution 763, assigned three-letter codes are considered permanent and are altered only under exceptional circumstances, usually involving air safety concerns,' Mr. Mohol said. The Minister's responses were to queries from BJP member Bhim Singh on whether it is a fact that the Gaya international airport's code is 'GAY', which people consider socially and culturally offensive and uncomfortable. He also asked whether the government is considering changing the code name 'GAY' to a more respectful and culturally appropriate code.
Mint
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Mint
This BJP MP seeks change in Gaya airport's ‘GAY' code, sparks backlash from LGBTQ activists
A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member in the Rajya Sabha has raised concerns about 'GAY' as the IATA identifier code for Gaya International Airport in Bihar. The Rajya Sabha MP Bhim Singh's complaint calling the code GAY as 'socially and culturally offensive' has sparked backlash from LGBTQ activists who say his remarks reinforce prejudice against the community. On 4 August, during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, Singh submitted a written query to Parliament questioning why the International Air Transport Association (IATA) code for the Bihar airport remains in use when people find it 'uncomfortable'. The MP from Bihar asked whether the government would consider changing it to 'a more respectful and culturally appropriate code' and sought a timeline for any such process. In response, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, in a written reply, said the three-letter airport codes once assigned are considered permanent and are altered only under exceptional circumstances, usually involving air safety concerns. On 4 August, during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, Singh submitted a written query to Parliament questioning why the International Air Transport Association (IATA) code for the Bihar airport remains in use when people find it 'uncomfortable' The three-letter airport codes, also known as IATA location identifiers, are assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to facilitate the identification of airports across various travel-related systems and processes. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Monday that these codes are generally assigned using the first three letters of the location's name where the airport is situated. He also mentioned that the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports Authority of India has received requests to change Gaya's code in the past. "IATA location codes are primarily intended for commercial airline operations and are issued at the request of airline operators. Air India had earlier approached IATA seeking a change of the existing airport code. However, IATA has conveyed that under the provisions of IATA Resolution 763, assigned three-letter codes are considered permanent and are altered only under exceptional circumstances, usually involving air safety concerns," Mohol said in the reply. LGBTQ activists have condemned Singh's characterisation of the code as offensive, arguing it reflects deep-rooted prejudice rather than legitimate cultural concerns. Arvind Narrain, an LGBTQ activist, pointed to the Supreme Court's 2018 ruling that decriminalised same-sex relationships and recognised LGBTQI persons' right to dignity. 'The member's description of us as immoral strips the community of dignity,' he told Hindustan Times. 'They need to educate themselves that as per the Supreme Court, what governs is not personal morality but constitutional morality. He should apologise to the community.' The member's description of us as immoral strips the community of dignity. Rajesh Srinivas, another LGBTQ activist, dismissed the need for any change. 'The airport code does not require a change as there is nothing culturally inappropriate about it. The discomfort with the term stems from deeply ingrained prejudice,' Srinivas told Hindustan Times.
