In 1994, the government-owned airport was privatized and started its first international flights.

In 2013, the airport handled 1.2 million passengers, breaking the Soviet-time record.

The airport can accept heavy aircraft including the Boeing 747 and the An-225.

The construction of the new passenger terminal is planned at Chelyabinsk Airport, this is done for BRICS summit in 2020.

The project includes the construction of the new terminal, which was scheduled to commence in summer 2018 and finish by December 2019.