Which airport name is correct: KMIA, MQP, Nelspruit, White River or Kruger Airport?

Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, KMIA, is the main airport to access the Lowveld, Kruger National Park and the Panorama Route.

The airport is known by several alternative names which can be confusing: KMIA, MQP, Nelspruit, White River or Kruger Airport.

Here is a disambiguation of KMIA’s various names.

KMIA Official names

Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport is the official name of the airport but is a mothful.

Most often the official abbreviation KMIA.

On your airline ticket you will see "MQP" which is the official IATA code for Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. Don't ask where the "Q" comes from. AI summaries seem to think the offical province name is

FAKN is the official ICAO code for KMIA, but this abbreviation is rarely seen or used.

Unofficial names

KMIA is also colloquially known by the following names, some of which are misleading:

KMI Airport

“KMI Airport” is sometimes used, which seems to make sense, unfortunately the IATA code KMI is already used by Miyazaki Airport in Japan!

MIA could also not be used as a IATA code as MIA is already being used by Miami.

Nelspruit Airport

KMIA is sometimes wrongly known as “Nelspruit Airport” due to its proximity to the Mpumalanga Provincial Capital (aka Mbombela). 

This is confusing as Nelspruit has its own separate airport with official IATA code NLP and ICAO code of FANS. The airport is management b the Mbombela Local Municipality and operates mostly private aircraft. Even Wikipedia and press article often get this wrong.

Nelspruit Airport is South West of Nelspruit in the opposite direction from KMIA. Make sure not to confuse the two or you will definitely miss your flight!

Nelspruit Airport is also the location of the Lowveld Air Show, an annual event showcasing heart-pounding aerobatics, vintage displays and high-speed jets.

White River Airport

The closest “town” to KMIA is White River, therefore KMIA is occasionally known are White River Airport.

Many travellers choose to stay their first night on arrival or last night before departure in White River, due to it’s proximity, convenient amenities and plentiful accommodation close to KMIA.

Kruger Airport

Kruger Airport is a natural abbreviation from the official “Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport” name, even though KMIA is not inside Kruger National Park. 

This should not be confused with Skukuza Airport (IATA code SZK and ICAO code FASZ) which is a smaller airport located inside Kruger National Park just outside Skukuza Rest Camp, the Kruger Park’s main camp.