The airport provided flights to major cities on the Japanese mainland as well as destinations throughout Okinawa Prefecture and the Yaeyama Islands.

[2][3] As of mid-2013, the possibility exists that the airport may be turned over fully to the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.

The runway of Ishigaki Airport could not accommodate planes larger than a Boeing 737, and the present site was not suitable for expansion due to urban encroachment.

However, due to concerns about coral, the residents of Shiraho long opposed the project.

In addition, historical artifacts from the Shiraho Saonetabaru Cave Ruins some 18,000 to 15,000 years old were discovered, affecting the timeline of the project.