Those four-character codes, decoded
Every card above shows an ICAO type code. It is the shorthand used in flight plans and on radar, and our aircraft guide hub explains where it comes from. A few you will see often:
- B738 is a Boeing 737-800, the most common jet in the sky.
- A20N is an Airbus A320neo. The N stands for "new engine option."
- B77W is a Boeing 777-300ER, a long-haul workhorse.
It is the same code you see when you click a plane on the live map. Spot a type, look it up here, and you know what flew over you. Our guide on identifying aircraft overhead explains the rest.
The four families you'll actually see
- Narrowbody workhorses - The A320 and 737 families fly more flights than everything else combined; if you glance up at a random contrail, odds are it's one of these. See narrowbody vs widebody.
- Long-haul widebodies - 787s, A350s, 777s and the last A380s carry the intercontinental network, cruising in the 30–40,000 ft band you can watch fill up on the statistics page.
- Regionals - E175s, CRJ900s, ATR 72s and Dash 8s connect small cities to the hubs, usually below 25,000 ft on shorter hops.
- Freighters - 747-8Fs, 777Fs and converted passenger jets that own the night sky; the cargo airline guide explains their midnight rhythm.
Five icons, side by side
| Type | Code | Passengers | Range | You'll see it on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-800 | B738 | 162–189 | 5,765 km | Short-haul everywhere; Ryanair's entire fleet |
| Airbus A320neo | A20N | 150–186 | 6,300 km | Short-haul everywhere; quieter, newer cabins |
| Boeing 787-9 | B789 | ~290 | 14,010 km | Thin long-haul routes, 16-hour ultra-flights |
| Airbus A350-900 | A359 | ~315 | 15,000 km | Flagship long-haul; the world's longest routes |
| Airbus A380-800 | A388 | ~525 | 14,800 km | Mega-hubs only: Dubai, London, Singapore |
Spotting tip
Can't tell an A320 from a 737 at altitude? Check the nose and the tail cone - The guide to telling Boeing and Airbus apart gives you five reliable tells, and the gear guide covers what binoculars actually help.
Frequently asked questions
What is an ICAO aircraft type code?
It is the short designator the aviation world uses for an aircraft model in flight plans and on radar, such as B738 for a Boeing 737-800 or A20N for an Airbus A320neo. It is the same code shown when you click an aircraft on the live map.
Why do some types have several codes?
Each major variant gets its own designator: the 737-800 is B738, the MAX 8 is B38M, and the A320neo is A20N even though they look nearly identical from the ground. The codes track certification differences, not looks.
How can I tell a Boeing from an Airbus?
The quickest tells are the nose and the flight-deck windows. Boeing noses are more pointed with an angled windscreen, while Airbus noses are rounder with a more upright windscreen. Wingtip devices and tail-cone shape confirm the model.
What is the difference between a narrowbody and a widebody?
A narrowbody has a single aisle and typically carries 100 to 240 passengers on short and medium routes. A widebody has two aisles, carries 250 to 500 passengers and is built for long-haul flying.
How high do these aircraft fly?
Jets cruise between roughly 31,000 and 42,000 ft; turboprops like the ATR 72 stay closer to 25,000 ft. Weight, weather and surrounding traffic all move the exact level a given flight is given.