In 1939, the New Zealand colonial administration decided to construct two military airfields in Samoa, one each for land- and seaplanes.

The land-based airfield was to be located on land from the Vailele plantation of the government-owned Reparation Estates near Fagaliʻi, and the site was surveyed.

[3] Initially a grass-only airstrip, Fagaliʻi was paved and reopened on 6 July 2002 under the exclusive operation of Polynesian Airlines.

[16] In August 2022, Public Enterprises Minister Leatinuu Wayne Soʻoialo confirmed plans to reopen the airport for flights to American Samoa.

[17] In September 2022, the government confirmed plans to reopen Fagaliʻi, but also assigned a minister to find an alternative site for an eventual replacement.