Nigeria Asks IATA To Review Transport Code For Osubi Airport In Delta, Says ‘Osubi Is Not Warri’ | Sahara Reporters

Osubi Airport, with the ICAO four-letter location indicator DNSU, is situated at Osubi, near Warri, Delta State.

The Nigerian government has asked the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to review the three-letter location code “QRW” assigned to Osubi Airport in Delta State, saying the code does not adequately reflect the airport’s official name and geographical location.

The request was contained in a letter dated Monday, August 17, 2026, from the Office of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development and addressed to the Area Manager, West and Central Africa, IATA, Lagos.

The letter, referenced FMA/ATMD/0008/S.106/T and addressed to Dr. Samuel Fatokun, requested that IATA consider adopting a new code that appropriately reflects the airport’s identity as Osubi.

Osubi Airport, with the ICAO four-letter location indicator DNSU, is situated at Osubi, near Warri, Delta State.

The Nigerian government said the airport is sometimes informally referred to as “Warri Airport” because of its proximity to and service of the Warri metropolitan area.

However, it stressed that the airport’s established name is Osubi Airport and that its physical location is Osubi town.

“While the airport is sometimes informally referred to as ‘Warri Airport’ because of its proximity to and service of the Warri metropolitan area, its established name is Osubi Airport and the physical location is in Osubi town,” the letter stated.

The government argued that the continued use of the IATA code QRW, which it said is associated with the broader Warri identity, does not adequately reflect the airport’s actual name and location.

“The Government considers it desirable that the IATA location code assigned to the airport should, as far as practicable and subject to IATA’s applicable coding standards and availability, bear a clear and recognisable relationship to Osubi town,” it stated.

According to the letter, changing the code would strengthen the airport’s identity, reduce ambiguity among passengers and other stakeholders, and promote consistency across aviation, travel and related information systems.

The Nigerian government consequently asked IATA to initiate a review of QRW and issue an appropriate available three-letter code that more clearly reflects the name “Osubi.”

It suggested “OSU”, “OSB”, “SUB” and “QSB” as possible alternatives, while noting that the final choice would be subject to IATA’s coding standards and availability.

The Minister of Aviation also directed airlines operating the route to reflect Osubi in relevant passenger documents.

“As Minister of Aviation, I am also directing all airlines flying that route to issue appropriate flight tickets, luggage tags and boarding passes reflecting the name ‘Osubi’ in Delta State,” the letter stated.

The minister also directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and other relevant aviation agencies to enforce and reflect the designation.

“I am directing the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and all other relevant Aviation Agencies to adequately enforce and reflect this proper designation,” the letter added.

The letter ended with an emphatic clarification of the distinction between Osubi and Warri.

The request will now require IATA to assess the proposed change in line with its applicable coding standards and the availability of the suggested alternatives.