The airport was built on the site of the Battle of Palonegro, which took place during the Thousand Days War in the early 20th century.

The main terminal is 25 minutes from the city in the fast lane of the highway west to Giron.

Bucaramanga was formerly served by Gómez Niño Airport, which was built by SCADTA in late 1938, when operations began with Junkers F-13 aircraft.

Construction began in 1967, and included major levelling work as the site consisted of a number of hills and canyons up to 60 metres deep.

The new airport was opened by the President Misael Pastrana in August 1974, and the inaugural flight took place on a Boeing 727 Avianca, commanded by Captain Alvaro Barrera Gómez.