The airport was opened on June 16, 1979, and in 1999 was named after Óscar Diego Gestido, President of Uruguay during 1967.

On August 14, 2023, Uruguay and Brazil signed an agreement to binationalize the airport.

[2][3][4] This is the first bi-national airport in Latin America and second in the world, after EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg.

The Tacuarembó VOR-DME (Ident: TMB) is located 51.9 nautical miles (96 km) south-southwest of the airport.

The Rivera non-directional beacon (Ident: RV) is located on the field.