As flyers eagerly anticipate the opening of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) and the Noida International Airport (NIA), it's crucial to understand the system of aviation codes that underpins global air travel. Two key organizations are responsible for these codes: the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
IATA vs. ICAO: What's the Difference?
Both IATA and ICAO assign codes to airports and airlines, but their purposes and the users they serve differ. IATA, a trade association for airlines, assigns two-letter airline codes and three-letter airport codes that are highly visible to the public. These IATA codes appear on tickets, baggage tags, and flight information displays, facilitating passenger convenience and streamlining ticketing and baggage handling processes. For example, the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai has the IATA code "BOM". The new Navi Mumbai International Airport has been assigned the IATA code "NMI". Noida International Airport's IATA code is "DXN".
ICAO, a United Nations agency, assigns three-letter airline designators and four-letter airport codes that are primarily used for aviation operations and air traffic control. These codes are less visible to the general public but are essential for pilots, air traffic controllers, and airlines for flight planning, navigation, and communication. For instance, the ICAO code for NMIA is "VANM". While the ICAO code for the existing Mumbai airport is VABB.
Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA): Ready for Take-Off
The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), located near Panvel and Ulwe, is slated to open by the end of September 2025. Built to alleviate the strain on Mumbai's current airport, NMIA has been assigned the IATA code "NMI" and the ICAO code "VANM". The airport is designed to handle the increasing demand for air travel in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
IndiGo and Akasa Air are among the first airlines confirmed to operate from NMIA. IndiGo plans to launch with 18 daily flights to over 15 cities, scaling up to 79 daily departures, including 14 international destinations, by March 2026. Akasa Air intends to operate approximately 100 domestic flights weekly initially, increasing to over 300 domestic and 50 international flights weekly by November 2026.
NMIA will also offer multi-modal connectivity, including roads, national highways, metros, high-speed rails, and waterways. The airport will have one operational terminal and runway in its initial phase, with a capacity to handle 20 million passengers and 0.30 million tonnes of cargo annually. Future expansion phases will increase capacity to 90 million passengers and 2.6 million tonnes of cargo by 2040.
Noida International Airport (NIA): Gearing Up for Operations
The Noida International Airport (NIA) in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, is also on track to begin operations soon. Domestic and cargo operations are expected to commence by September 15, 2025, followed by international flights in November 2025. NIA is strategically located 75 km from Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi and will serve cities like Noida, Dadri, and Agra. The IATA code for NIA is "DXN".
NIA is projected to handle 6 million passengers in its first year and eventually increase to 70 million passengers annually after all development phases are complete. IndiGo has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to be the launch carrier for NIA. The airport will feature sustainable design elements, including a green buffer zone and the use of natural light to reduce its carbon footprint. A high-speed rail link between Delhi and Varanasi is also proposed, which will reduce travel time from Delhi to NIA to just 21 minutes.
With the launch of NMIA and NIA, travelers can anticipate greater convenience, expanded route options, and enhanced capacity in the Indian aviation sector. Understanding the roles of IATA and ICAO and their respective codes will allow passengers to navigate their journeys with greater clarity and ease.
