[7] In the early 2000s, ski resorts on both sides of the border experienced an increase in international tourism, leading to plans for an airport to accommodate guests from across Europe.

The project was led by new owners Scandinavian Mountains Airport AB, a consortium of local tourism stakeholders from both Sweden and Norway, including municipal tourist promotion companies and SkiStar, which owns nearby ski resorts.

[4] Plans focused on building an airport to accommodate charter flights for tourists coming to the winter sports resorts of Sälen and Idre in Sweden, and Trysil in Norway.

[17] During this initial period, Braathens Regional Airlines (BRA) operated domestic flights from several Swedish including Stockholm Bromma, Malmö, Ängelholm, Gothenburg and Växjö,.

[24] The 2023-2024 winter season saw Scandinavian Mountains Airport reach approximately 25,000 passengers, marking a 40% increase compared to previous years.

[25] This growth was driven by international travellers, particularly from Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, due in part to favourable exchange rates.

[27][28] Although designed for transporting tourists to the Sälen mountain region, the airport's border location has made it an asset for military activities.

The airport was utilised during the Gränsland-21 military exercise in September 2021, which involved over 500 soldiers from the Swedish Armed Forces and Norwegian home guard units.

Following this, in January 2023, the Swedish Armed Forces, in collaboration with Norway, temporarily assumed control over the airport’s operations for another major military exercise.

[32] In 2024, Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson stated that the airport's strategic location near the Norwegian border would play a crucial role in shaping future military strategies in the region following Sweden's entry into NATO.

[33][34] The terminal building spans 6,000 m2 and is designed to handle the seasonal influx of passengers traveling to nearby ski resorts.

It has four gates and is equipped with facilities including passport control and customs areas, a restaurant, a tax-free shop, and a café.

[39] Scandinavian Mountains Airport features a single 2,500 meter-long runway, and is designed to accommodate aircraft with wingspans up to 65 meters.