Keyamo Seeks IATA Review Of Osubi Airport Code

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has asked the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to review the three-letter location code, “QRW,” currently assigned to Osubi Airport in Delta State.

The minister made the request in a letter addressed to IATA’s area manager for West and Central Africa, Dr Samuel Fatokun, arguing that the existing code does not adequately reflect the airport’s official name and actual geographical location.

Osubi Airport, which has the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) four-letter location indicator DNSU, is physically located in Osubi town near Warri, Delta State.

Although the airport is sometimes referred to as “Warri Airport” because it serves the wider Warri metropolitan area, the federal government has clarified that its official geographical designation is Osubi Airport.

According to Keyamo, the continued use of “QRW,” which is associated with the broader Warri identity, could create ambiguity, as the airport is located in Osubi.

The minister therefore asked IATA to commence the necessary review and, subject to its coding standards and availability, consider adopting a three-letter code that has a clearer connection with Osubi.

Among the possible codes suggested for consideration are OSU, OSB, SUB and QSB, although the final decision will rest with IATA in accordance with its established procedures.

Keyamo said aligning the airport’s IATA code with its official name and physical location would improve clarity for passengers and aviation stakeholders while promoting consistency in airline ticketing, baggage handling, flight information and other travel systems.

In a related directive, the minister ordered airlines operating flights to and from the airport to ensure that passenger-facing documents, including flight tickets, luggage tags and boarding passes, properly identify the airport as Osubi, Delta State.

He also directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), and other relevant agencies to ensure that the proper designation is consistently reflected in their systems, records, publications, and operational platforms.

The minister stressed that the clarification was not intended to diminish Osubi Airport’s role in serving residents and businesses within the wider Warri metropolitan area.

However, he said the move was aimed at ensuring geographical and operational accuracy in Nigeria’s aviation records and international aviation systems.

“Osubi is not Warri, and Warri is not Osubi,” Keyamo stated emphatically.

The federal government said the initiative is part of its broader commitment to ensuring that Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure, airport locations and operational information are accurately represented in both national and international aviation systems.