At the end of World War II, Swiss authorities identified existing locations that were to be modernized with new regional airports, as second tiers of infrastructure to support the primary urban airports, with Samedan being one of the five.

[3] The airport has one runway designated 03/21 with an asphalt pavement measuring 1800 x 40 metres (5905 x 130 ft).

[1] Because of its location at the bottom of a valley, it is not equipped with an instrument landing system.

It is also considered one of the most challenging airports in the world because of its difficult topography and winds, and because of the thinness of the air at its altitude.

Much of its traffic consists of light to heavy general aviation traffic, including many private-corporate jets, private propeller aircraft, and the fleet of Swiss Jet.