[1] It is the main commercial airport in Central Oregon, with nonstop scheduled passenger airline flights to several hubs in the western U.S. as well as seasonally to Dallas.

It is the home of the Lancair factory and a base for aerial firefighting aircraft operated by private airtanker companies.

The United States Forest Service (USFS) Redmond Air Center is on the airport and supports regional firefighting operations with this federal facility providing training and housing for smokejumper teams along with fuel, water and fire retardant for airtanker aircraft at its ramps along the north side of the field.

Avelo Airlines began new nonstop service between Redmond and the Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) in the Los Angeles area on May 13, 2021, with Boeing 737-800 mainline jetliners.

[6] During World War II the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Forces as a bomber base.

Hughes Airwest DC-9s flew nonstop to Portland and direct to San Francisco (SFO) and Los Angeles (LAX).

Horizon announced cuts to Seattle and Portland service in 2009, as it continued to phase out its smaller aircraft in favor of the Q400.

[18] In 2011, passenger boardings were 3% higher than 2010 (through October), thus being the busiest year since the airport opened[19] In early 2013 American Eagle announced it would offer nonstop service to Los Angeles for American Airlines with these flights replacing the service by Alaska Airlines regional connector Horizon Air.

A method known as a "travel bank" was used, where local individuals, businesses, and civic entities pre-purchased travel vouchers from the airline, acting as a commitment to the required level of demand on the route, which began in June, and was served by SkyWest Airlines Canadair CRJ-200s branded as American Eagle.

[20][21][22] By mid-2014, United announced the end of all flights between Portland and both Redmond and Eugene, due to SkyWest's elimination of the EMB-120 from its fleet; the routes are ostensibly unable to support CRJ service.

[28][29][30] In October 2009, most sections of the expanded passenger terminal opened for public use; the improvements include more numerous check-in counters and bathrooms, along with a two-story, windowed departure lounge.

[32] The airport upgraded its mass-casualty vehicle in 2011 due to larger commercial jets using Roberts Field; while the old unit could handle 37 patients, the new truck is prepared for an incident involving over 100.

[1][37] In the year ending March 24, 2022 the airport had 75,150 aircraft operations, average 206 per day: 72% general aviation, 10% air taxi, 18% airline, and <1% military.