[2][3][4] Located in the Karisimbi commune, the airport lies approximately 2 kilometers from Goma's city center, strategically positioned between the active Nyiragongo volcano to the north and the gas-laden Lake Kivu.

[3] In 1948, the colonial authorities conceptualized the idea of building an unpaved runway capable of accommodating light aircraft with a maximum weight of 5.7 tonnes, marking the initial phase of the airport's infrastructural evolution.

[3] However, the work was significantly disrupted by the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano on 10 January 1977, which resulted in lava flows halting just north of the Munigi groupement in the Bukumu Chiefdom, only about three kilometers from the northern end of the airport's runway.

The runway was further extended to a length of 3,000 meters and equipped with advanced lighting and navigational aids, including the PAPI (Precision Approach Path Indicator) situated at the southern end.

[3] Due to the proximity of the Nyiragongo volcano, takeoffs and landings were restricted to the southerly approach (runway 35), which remains unimpeded and secure, flying over the town and the adjacent Lake Kivu.

[6][9] In August 2015, President Joseph Kabila inaugurated the refurbished runway, which was extended to 2,665 meters, funded by the German aid organization Agro Action Allemande (AAA) at a cost of €16 million.

[3] Additionally, the airport is supported by a water tower and several radio navigation stations, including VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range), DME (Distance Measuring Equipment), and NDB (Non-Directional Beacon).