[1][2] The airport's first building was designed by Max Peña Prado,[1] built by construction company Roque Vargas Prada y Compañía,[1] and inaugurated on November 3, 1935, by General Óscar R. Benavides, then president of Peru.

[1] Prior to its inauguration, the city of Lima was serviced by small air strips,[1] such as those in Santa Beatriz (opened in 1924),[6] Bellavista and Elmer Faucett (both located in neighbouring Callao,[3] and the former interrupted by a huaca).

[3] The airport's modernisation was overseen by CORPAC, with construction finishing on September 23, 1948, under the government of José Luis Bustamante y Rivero, in honour of Jorge Chávez's fight across the Alps.

[3][5] In its heyday, it saw the arrival of international figures, such as John Wayne, Johnny Weissmüller, Mario Moreno, Obdulio Varela, Nat King Cole, Dolores del Río and Pedro Infante, among others.

[3][7] The airport had both national and international flights, and served as the hub for a number of airlines, including the Pan American-Grace Airways (whose building was located next to the original terminal)[4] and Aerolíneas Peruanas from 1956 to 1960.

[4] The southeastern terrain adjacent to the airport was the site of the construction of a housing project known as the Torres de Limatambo,[12] located on the corners of Aviación (formerly Aeropuerto) and Angamos avenues and promoted by architect Fernando Belaúnde during his second presidency.