During the era of French colonization in Algeria, the airport was named Bône-les-Salines, in reference to the salt lakes in the vicinity of the site.

It was later captured by the United States Army, the USAAF Twelfth Air Force in the Western Desert Campaign in 1942–1943.

One notable pilot to fly from Bone on occasion was Wing Commander Adrian Warburton who was an infrequent visitor after crash landing there on 15 November 1942.

Alan M Peart DFC also claimed his first aerial combat victory as well as two further aircraft damaged over Bone Harbour during this time.

[citation needed] Since then, the airport has been named in honor of Rabah Bitat, former head of the Algerian state.