[6] A historical highlight was the first flight from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth in 1917, made by Major Allister Mackintosh Miller.

At that time, this was considered a long-distance flight, and it heralded the start of the civil aviation industry in Port Elizabeth.

It was initially founded by Lieutenant Colonel Miller, who needed an airfield to operate his postal service between the city and Cape Town.

The commercial operation was moved to an airfield at St Albans, some 25 km from the city centre, for the construction period.

This facility caters for domestic flights but can be screened off to operate a fully compliant International arrivals and departures section.

The modern terminal upgrade was completed in June 2004 allowing the airport to handle up to 2 million passengers a year.

The museum houses many historical military jets, helicopters, exhibits and paintings dating from the airport's days a World War II base to the end of apartheid.