It is named after banker and General Motors board member Arthur Giles Bishop (April 12, 1851 – January 22, 1944), who donated 220 acres of his farmland for the airport in 1928.

The third-busiest airport in Michigan after those of Detroit and Grand Rapids, it surpassed competitor MBS near Saginaw in terms of airline operations in 2002.

[6][needs update] It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2021–2025, in which it is categorized as a non-hub primary commercial service facility.

[9][10][11] In 1928, the Arthur Giles Bishop family gave to the City of Flint 220 acres for aeronautical purposes.

[12] The renovation and expansion of the current terminal, originally built in 1993, was designed by Reynolds, Smith & Hills.

[14] For much of the 2000s, competition between AirTran and Northwest brought growth in air service to Flint which included flights to Florida and Las Vegas.

American Eagle subsequently started flights to Chicago O'Hare International Airport by the end of that year.

[34] On November 17, 2020, Allegiant announced it would begin service between Flint and Las Vegas, starting March 4, 2021.

[39] Envoy Air (as American Eagle) also started a fourth daily flight to Chicago O'Hare.

[40] On April 11, 2019, PSA Airlines (as American Eagle) announced twice daily service to Charlotte to begin in September 2019.

[42] Delta Air Lines indefinitely suspended flights their last remaining service from Flint to Atlanta due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aviation.

[43] In early February 2007 Bishop International Airport unveiled a comprehensive five-year developmental plan that would be slated for continuation through late 2011.

The program called for two phases of "Intermodal Facility Development," including the expansion of the West Cargo Apron, what is now known as the Abex and Emory GVA Freight Ramp,[44] located on the airport's northwest side.

In May 2009 Bishop International Airport began Phase I of its Terminal Airside & Concourse Improvements program.

[51] On August 29, 2013, the airport received a $2.87 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which was used to repair taxiways and lighting and to buy a replacement snow truck.

Also on that date, Michigan Congressman Dan Kildee said he plans to seek another $4.5 million in the 2025 federal budget for undisclosed safety and accessibility improvements.