---
title: "KUL is which airport? Kuala Lumpur"
description: "KUL is Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Why the code is KUL and not something you could guess, plus the codes it gets mixed up with."
url: https://atoneplace.net/airport/kul/
site: "At One Place"
---

# What airport is KUL?

**KUL is: Kuala Lumpur International Airport**

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

## Why the code is KUL

Kuala Lumpur, taking K, U and L.

The airport authority or a contemporaneous record states this directly.

## The airport

- **IATA code:** KUL
- **ICAO code:** WMKK
- **Airport:** Kuala Lumpur International Airport
- **City:** Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- **Code origin:** Documented

The airport sits in what was a palm-oil plantation, and a section of rainforest was left standing in the middle of the satellite terminal rather than cleared — passengers walk around it. It is 45 km from the city, connected by an express rail link.

## The other code, WMKK

Every airport has two codes. The three-letter IATA code, KUL, is the one on your boarding pass and your luggage tag, and it is assigned for commercial use. The four-letter ICAO code, WMKK, is the one pilots and controllers use, and it is assigned geographically: the first letter or two identify the region, so every airport in the same part of the world shares a prefix. That is why WMKK looks nothing like KUL.

## Common questions

### What airport is KUL?

Kuala Lumpur International Airport, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

### Why is Kuala Lumpur's airport called KUL?

Kuala Lumpur, taking K, U and L.

### What is the difference between KUL and WMKK?

KUL is the IATA code, used commercially — tickets, timetables, luggage tags. WMKK is the ICAO code, used operationally by pilots and air traffic control, and assigned geographically by region.

## Related pages

- [Malaysia](https://atoneplace.net/country/malaysia/)
- [The flag of Malaysia](https://atoneplace.net/flag/malaysia/)
- [Airport codes in Malaysia](https://atoneplace.net/airport/in/malaysia/)

## Sources

- OurAirports — OurAirports (https://ourairports.com/data/) [Public domain]