Originally built during the 1920s as an alternative to the military airport at Son Sant Joan, the first commercial flight was in 1927 and a flying school established in 1935.

The airfield is located in the Marratxí municipality between Pont d'Inca and Pla de Na Tesa, which is in close proximity to Palma (5½ km northeast from the town centre).

The Italian air force briefly used the airport as one of their bases to launch bomber raids over the mainland.

During 1946, Son Bonet was equipped as a customs airport and opened to domestic and international traffic in July.

Today it is primarily used for general and leisure aviation, with approximately 75,000 flights per year.