International charter flights to Kushiro began in 2000 and have operated from South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

It has been expanded and upgraded several times; a taxiway parallel to the runway opened in 1988, a Category 3a instrument landing system (ILS) became operational in 1995, and a new passenger terminal, 2.6 times the size of the original terminal, opened in 1998.

[6][7] Kushiro Airport has a single passenger terminal on three levels with three boarding gates.

[8] It is designed primarily for domestic flights, but has limited customs and immigration facilities for international charter arrivals.

A bus service runs between the airport and the town of Kushiro, taking about 25 minutes and calling at the railway station, "MOO" shopping complex and a few other locations.