The airport was named after the Argentine aviation pioneer Vicente Almandos Almonacid (es) (1882–1953).

[6] The airport was built in 1948, and was officially inaugurated with an LADE Vickers Viking flight on October 11, 1948 (linking La Rioja with Buenos Aires vía Río Cuarto, San Luis, Santa Rosa, and Córdoba).

In 1978, a new 940 m2 (10,100 sq ft) passenger terminal and 70 car parking lot were added.

The La Rioja VOR and non-directional beacon (Idents: LAR) are located on the field.

A virtual airline named Alas La Rioja once operatedout of this aitport, before cancelling flights in 2023.