# IATA Developer Portal MCP > IATA Developer Portal provides immediate access to official global aviation standards, letting your AI agent audit airports, airlines, and aircraft data without manual lookup. Need to verify a flight path or build a travel app? This MCP lets you search for airport codes, check airline identifiers against the master list, and retrieve detailed metadata using natural conversation. ## Overview - **Category:** data-management - **Price:** Free - **Tags:** aviation-standards, airport-codes, airline-identifiers, logistics-auditing, industry-data, reference-data ## Description Trying to research global logistics means wading through massive industry manuals filled with acronyms and version numbers. You shouldn't have to be an aviation expert just to write code or plan a route. The IATA Developer Portal connects your AI agent directly to the world’s authoritative source for aviation data. Instead of copy-pasting codes into fragmented spreadsheets, you ask your agent a question—like 'What are the details for Heathrow?'—and it gives you a structured answer based on official standards. This MCP lets your agent act like a real-time consultant, handling everything from checking city metadata to auditing carrier names. By connecting this data through Vinkius, your AI client gets instant access to global aviation knowledge, letting you build robust travel and logistics applications with confidence. ## Tools ### check_api_status Checks if the main IATA API is currently running and available for use. ### get_city_details Retrieves detailed geographical information about a city using its specific IATA code. ### search_airlines Looks up and verifies airline identifiers based on their unique IATA codes. ### list_iata_countries Generates a complete list of all countries that the IATA catalog currently supports. ### search_aircraft Provides technical metadata and details for specific aircraft types using their IATA codes. ### search_airports Searches for airports by their IATA code, returning key data like names and locations. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` Search for airport with IATA code 'LHR' (London Heathrow) using IATA Portal. ``` **Response:** ``` I've retrieved the details for London Heathrow Airport. It is located in the United Kingdom and uses timezone Europe/London. Would you like the full geographic coordinates or city metadata? ``` **Prompt:** ``` Identify the airline with code 'BA' (British Airways). ``` **Response:** ``` I've identified the airline as British Airways. I can retrieve the full name and operational metadata for this carrier if you'd like. ``` **Prompt:** ``` What aircraft corresponds to IATA code '744'? ``` **Response:** ``` I've retrieved the details. The IATA code '744' corresponds to the Boeing 747-400 (Passenger) aircraft. I can assist you with more aircraft metadata if needed. ``` ## Capabilities ### Auditing airport location details Search for airports using their IATA code and retrieve key information like names and geographic coordinates. ### Verifying global airline codes Confirm if an airline identifier is valid and retrieve its full name or operational metadata. ### Identifying aircraft types Query the system to understand technical details about specific aircraft models used in global travel. ### Mapping city data by IATA code Retrieve detailed geographical and administrative information for a city using its associated IATA code. ### Listing regional standards Get a full list of all supported countries recognized within the global IATA catalog. ## Use Cases ### Validating a multi-city itinerary A travel developer needs to build an itinerary that crosses several international boundaries. They ask their agent to use `get_city_details` for every stop, ensuring the local city data is complete and accurate before committing to the booking API. ### Building a logistics monitoring dashboard An operations lead needs to confirm that all partner carriers are compliant. They ask their agent to use `search_airlines` repeatedly, quickly auditing every carrier ID against the master list to prevent shipping delays due to invalid codes. ### Auditing a new market's regulatory scope An aviation researcher needs to know which regions are supported by IATA. They ask the agent to run `list_iata_countries` first, giving them a comprehensive list of countries they must reference in their research. ### Checking equipment compatibility for cargo routes A planner needs to know what kind of planes are used on specific global routes. They ask the agent to use `search_aircraft` with a given IATA code, getting technical specs without consulting a manual. ## Benefits - Stop manually cross-referencing codes. Use `search_airports` to instantly audit global airports and get required metadata in one query. - Maintain data integrity by using `list_iata_countries` to ensure your application only references officially supported regional standards. - When building travel apps, verifying carrier legitimacy is key. The `search_airlines` tool ensures every airline identifier you use is valid. - Don't just get a name; get details. Use `get_city_details` with an IATA code to pull complete geographical and administrative information for planning. - If your app needs to track equipment, the `search_aircraft` function gives you technical metadata on specific plane types, streamlining logistics auditing. ## How It Works The bottom line is that your AI client treats complex aviation databases like a simple conversational search engine. 1. Subscribe to this MCP and input your unique IATA API Key into your AI client. 2. Instruct your agent on the specific aviation data you need—for example, 'List all supported countries' or 'Find details for LHR.' 3. Your agent executes the necessary tool call and returns structured metadata, giving you verifiable facts about airports, airlines, or aircraft. ## Frequently Asked Questions **What does search_airports do with IATA Developer Portal MCP?** The `search_airports` tool finds airports based on their IATA code. It returns detailed metadata, including the airport's full name and its precise geographic location. **Do I need an API key to use this MCP?** Yes, you must subscribe to the portal and provide your unique IATA API Key in your client settings. This authorizes your agent to access the official data streams. **Can I check if a country is supported using list_iata_countries?** Yes, `list_iata_countries` gives you a comprehensive rundown of every country currently included in the IATA catalog. This helps keep your regional data scope controlled. **How do I verify an airline using search_airlines?** You pass the known or suspected IATA code to `search_airlines`. The tool verifies its existence and retrieves the carrier's official, full name for confirmation. **Is this MCP better than a simple database lookup?** This MCP is better because it allows your agent to orchestrate multiple lookups (e.g., city details + airport details) in one natural request, simulating a human expert's knowledge. **What if I don't know the IATA code for a city?** You can use your agent to help structure the query. While `get_city_details` requires a code, the conversation itself allows you to ask for guidance on what codes are needed.