Can Anheuser-Busch Trademark 3-Letter Airport Codes Such as LGA?

Last year, beer conglomerate Anheuser-Busch/InBev filed multiple "intent to use" trademark applications for 14 U.S. telephone area codes. Now Anheuser-Busch has applied for trademark registrations for 42 U.S. airports, including New York's LaGuardia and JFK airports; Los Angeles International Airport; and San Francisco International Airport. Not surprisingly, the class of goods listed in each filing is "beer."  


The International Air Association Transport Association already owns trademarks on all the airport codes, but trademark law permits the use and filing for trademark registrations for codes if used in connection with a bona fide offering of goods or services that are not likely to cause confusion with those preexisting registrations/uses.  Anheuser-Busch's area code trademark applications had previously led to speculation that the company was trying to mimic the success of 312 Urban Wheat Ale, the popular beer by Chicago's Goose Island Beer Company—which Anheuser-Busch bought last year—in cities including New York and Los Angeles.  One can only wonder what type of local beer would be associated with LaGuardia airport, "Overpriced LGA Yellow Cab Ale"?