The former airport used SGU as the location identifier for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and International Air Transport Association (IATA).

A site was chosen about 6 miles southeast of downtown at an abandoned airfield which had not seen air traffic since 1961 and most recently had been used for vehicle drag racing and radio controlled aircraft.

Plans for this new larger airport included a single 10,000 ft (3048m) runway suitable for regional jets and smaller mainline aircraft.

SkyWest subsequently initiated nonstop Canadair CRJ regional jet services to Denver operating as United Express.

Officials found soil issues from expansive clay at the airport only a few years after its opening, and sealed cracks quickly became ubiquitous on the runway and tarmac.

[3] In the 12 months ending August 4, 2020 the airport had 80,105 aircraft operations, average 219 per day: 86% general aviation, 3% air taxi, 8% airline, and 2% military.

[citation needed] The airport is serviced by two fixed-base operators: Million Air St. George and Sandstone Aviation.

[20] By 1962, Bonanza had replaced its DC-3s with larger Fairchild F-27 turboprops; however, this airline had ceased all service to St George, instead serving Cedar City, Utah, with the F-27, as this aircraft was deemed too large for the old airfield.

In November 2016, American Eagle operated by SkyWest Airlines CRJ 200 regional jets began flying between St. George and Phoenix.