Additionally, a military helicopter unit, the 2° Reggimento dell'Aria "Sirio", is based near the airport.

In 1965, a consortium, CONSAER, was formed to build a new airport near the motorway, the railway and the port of Gioia Tauro; level ground near Lamezia Terme was chosen as the site.

Itavia began scheduled flights to Rome-Fiumicino, Milan-Linate, Catania and Palermo in December of that year.

Since 1990 it has been managed by SACAL SpA, which is jointly owned by various local government administrations and by private investors.

A design competition for a new passenger terminal to replace the present building was held in November 2008, and was won by Engco.