Vice City International Airport

Overview

Vice City International Airport (IATA: VCI) is the primary international airport serving Vice-Dale County, Leonida, that is set to appear in Grand Theft Auto VI. The airport is located in an unincorporated area of Vice-Dale County within the mainland of Vice City, situated close to the city center. It is a large facility with direct access to highways and nearby hotels, and it features its own automated transit system.

Segments of the airport first appeared in the September 2022 leak footage, which showed portions of the tarmac, hangars belonging to the Autograph private aviation company, and transit system cars. The airport's control towers and radar installations were officially revealed in the first trailer, visible behind the Vice City Sign.

Facilities and Features

The airport appears to be a major international hub with multiple terminals, runways, and supporting infrastructure. Based on details visible in leaked and official footage, the facility includes the following known features.

• Automated Transit System: The airport features a functional peoplemover system that stops at the airport and allows players to walk into the tram to board. This system is a rendition of MIA's MIA Mover.

• Autograph Hangars: Private aviation hangars operated by the Autograph company were visible in leaked footage on the airport's tarmac.

• Control Tower: A prominent control tower modeled after Miami International Airport's real tower was visible in Trailer 1 behind the Vice City Sign.

• Freight and Cargo Terminal: A separate freight and cargo terminal associated with the airport has been identified, suggesting the facility handles both passenger and commercial shipping operations.

Key Facts

Transportation Connections

The airport is connected to the broader Vice City Metro transit network. In leaked footage, transit system cars for the Vice City Metro Mule were seen parked alongside the airport's own peoplemover cars, suggesting an integrated public transportation system connecting the airport to the city. The airport's close proximity to highways also provides road access for vehicles traveling to and from the facility.

Legacy

In the 3D Universe version of Vice City (Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Vice City Stories), the city's airport was known as Escobar International Airport. Whether Vice City International Airport shares any continuity with its predecessor remains unclear, as GTA VI takes place in the HD Universe, which is separate from the 3D Universe timeline. The renaming from "Escobar" to "Vice City" International mirrors how real-world airports occasionally rebrand to reflect their metropolitan area rather than a historical figure.

Real-World Inspiration

Vice City International Airport is based on Miami International Airport (MIA), the primary airport serving Miami-Dade County, Florida. The parallels are evident in the airport's name, its position relative to the city center, and its design elements. The in-game automated transit system is a direct rendition of the MIA Mover, an automated peoplemover that connects MIA's terminals to the Miami Intermodal Center. The blue hangars visible in leaked footage are seemingly inspired by those at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport, a secondary airfield in the Miami area.

Trivia

• The airport's tram is one of the first confirmed forms of public transport players can freely use in GTA VI, as leaked footage showed players could simply walk into the tram to board it.

• The Autograph private aviation company, whose hangars were seen on the tarmac, appears to be a fictional charter flight service.

• The Vice City Sign, visible in Trailer 1 with the airport's control tower in the background, is based on a movie prop frequently used in late 1990s and early 2000s films set in Miami.