[2] The runway was built by the Soviet Union (USSR) in the mid-1970s in order to counter the United States' military presence in the region.

[3] It was rented by NASA at a cost of US$40 million per year, and used as an emergency landing site for the Space Shuttle from 1980 until 1991, when the government of former President of Somalia Siad Barre collapsed.

The terminal was constructed on a 3,200 m2 (34,000 sq ft) land plot and has various facilities, including public address and communication equipment, baggage transfer and checkpoints, security checks, a water tanker, 200 kg (440 lb) capacity scales, and an asphalt road leading toward the runway.

The renovation works were carried out by Dubai-based company Transport Infrastructure Services Limited (TISL).

Previously, African Express Airways and Daallo Airlines served several domestic and few international routes within Africa.