The site was originally purchased in 1935 by Oxford City Council to act as municipal airport, and it became operational in June 1938 with a formal inauguration in July 1939.

[6] Following Royal Air Force use (as RAF Kidlington) during World War II, it became established as a centre for aviation education, charter and maintenance facilities.

[18] In January 2010 the airport announced the launch of daily flights to Edinburgh to be operated by new start-up, Varsity Express.

[21] The intention was to create capacity for up to 40 medium to large executive jets, in order to cater for major public events such as the Olympic Games.

[5] The airport's proximity (about 25 miles (40 km)) to Silverstone Circuit attracts an increase in business aviation activity during the British Grand Prix.

At 63,000 square feet (5,900 m2) and 140 metres (460 ft) long, it can hold several Bombardier Global 7500, Gulfstream G650/G700/G800 and Dassault Falcon 7X aircraft, complete with an attached office block.

[28] A new airside Self Service Avgas facility was also installed, allowing for visiting light aircraft to easily refuel using a Credit Card.

In December 2015, the UK government confirmed funding support for a proposed reinstatement of the Oxford – Edinburgh route.

[31] However, the primary focus today is the London region business aviation market where the airport is the sixth busiest for this sector in the UK, but hosts the fourth-busiest FBO (Fixed-Base Operation – VIP aircraft handling facility) with over 5,500 business aircraft movements a year.

The northern taxiway has been rerouted and extended to the end of the runway, removing the need for backtracking for departure, and moving the noise away from local residents.

[29] In 2007 the airport re-surfaced, strengthened and widened the main runway, taxiways and aprons, and installed new airfield ground lighting and a CAT 1 instrument landing system (ILS).

Although Oxford Airport is only about 1 kilometre (0.6 mi) from the Cherwell Valley Line, it has no direct rail service.

[35] The airport is off the A44 and A4260 roads which both lead to Oxford city centre, and it is about 7 miles or 11 km from junction 9 of the M40 motorway.