A suitable location with room for future expansion was found to the south of Lelystad.

At first Lelystad had grass taxi- and runways, but it was found that the clay could not support the traffic, as tracks started to form.

In 1991 the runway length was increased to 1,250 metres (4,101 ft), to try to attract more business aircraft.

The runway has been extended to a total length of 2,700 metres (8,858 ft), long enough to facilitate all aircraft of the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families, and also suitable for operations with wide bodies like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, although not at maximum take off weight.

The airport will have its own exit from the A6 motorway, which connects with Amsterdam, with travel times around 40–45 minutes when traffic allows.

A public bus service also takes travelers to the Lelystad Centrum railway station, where trains run frequently in the direction of Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport and The Hague, Zwolle and Groningen.