By Benson Daniel
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has formally asked the International Air Transport Association to review the three letter location code assigned to Osubi Airport in Delta State, saying the existing designation does not adequately reflect the airport’s official name and geographical location.
Osubi Airport currently operates under the IATA code QRW, while its four letter International Civil Aviation Organisation location indicator is DNSU. The airport is physically located in Osubi town near Warri in Delta State and serves the wider Warri metropolitan area.
Keyamo conveyed the request in a letter addressed to IATA’s Area Manager for West and Central Africa, Dr Samuel Fatokun, asking the international aviation body to commence a formal review of the existing designation.
The minister argued that the continued use of QRW, which is associated with the broader Warri identity, could create inconsistencies between the airport’s official name, its physical location and the manner in which it is identified across aviation and travel systems.
The Federal Government is seeking an alternative three letter code that would have a clearer connection with Osubi, subject to IATA’s coding procedures, technical requirements and the availability of suitable combinations. Reports indicate that OSU, OSB, SUB and QSB have been proposed for consideration.
Keyamo stressed that the proposed review was intended to improve geographical and operational accuracy rather than diminish the airport’s importance to the Warri metropolitan area.
He also directed airlines operating to and from the airport to identify the facility as Osubi, Delta State on passenger tickets, baggage tags, boarding passes and other passenger facing documents.
Relevant aviation agencies have similarly been directed to reflect the Osubi designation in their official records, systems, publications and operational interfaces.
The government believes that ensuring consistency in the airport’s identification will reduce potential confusion for passengers, airlines and other aviation stakeholders.
Airport location codes play an important role in modern air travel, appearing on booking systems, tickets, baggage handling systems and passenger information platforms. A designation that more closely corresponds with an airport’s official geographical identity could therefore improve consistency across these systems.
The proposed change, however, would not alter the airport’s role in serving travellers and businesses within Warri and surrounding communities.
Osubi Airport remains an important domestic aviation facility in Delta State, connecting the region with other major destinations in Nigeria.
The Federal Government’s request comes amid broader efforts to strengthen the accuracy of Nigeria’s aviation records and ensure that airports and other facilities are appropriately represented within national and international aviation systems.
The final decision on any change to the existing QRW designation rests with IATA and would be subject to its established coding rules and the availability of an appropriate code.
For the government, the objective is to ensure that Osubi Airport’s international aviation identity corresponds more closely with its official name and actual location while maintaining its strategic role as an airport serving the wider Warri area.
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