---
title: "STN is which airport? London"
description: "STN is London Stansted Airport in London, United Kingdom. Why the code is STN and not something you could guess, plus the codes it gets mixed up with."
url: https://atoneplace.net/airport/stn/
site: "At One Place"
---

# What airport is STN?

**STN is: London Stansted Airport**

London, United Kingdom

## Why the code is STN

STaNsted.

The airport authority or a contemporaneous record states this directly.

## The airport

- **IATA code:** STN
- **ICAO code:** EGSS
- **Airport:** London Stansted Airport
- **City:** London, United Kingdom
- **Code origin:** Documented

Stansted is 42 miles from central London, further than either Heathrow or Gatwick, and is the base for Ryanair's UK operation. Its Norman Foster terminal put all the services underground so the roof could be a single uninterrupted plane of daylight, a design widely copied since.

## The other code, EGSS

Every airport has two codes. The three-letter IATA code, STN, is the one on your boarding pass and your luggage tag, and it is assigned for commercial use. The four-letter ICAO code, EGSS, 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 EGSS looks nothing like STN.

## Common questions

### What airport is STN?

London Stansted Airport, in London, United Kingdom.

### Why is London's airport called STN?

STaNsted.

### What is the difference between STN and EGSS?

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

## Related pages

- [United Kingdom](https://atoneplace.net/country/united-kingdom/)
- [The flag of United Kingdom](https://atoneplace.net/flag/united-kingdom/)
- [Airport codes in United Kingdom](https://atoneplace.net/airport/in/united-kingdom/)
- [What airport is LHR?](https://atoneplace.net/airport/lhr/)
- [What airport is LGW?](https://atoneplace.net/airport/lgw/)
- [What airport is MAN?](https://atoneplace.net/airport/man/)
- [What airport is LTN?](https://atoneplace.net/airport/ltn/)
- [What airport is LCY?](https://atoneplace.net/airport/lcy/)
- [What airport is EDI?](https://atoneplace.net/airport/edi/)

## Sources

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