[3] St Mary's Airport was first opened in August 1939, after being converted from High Cross Farm.

Brymon Airways operated services from June 1972 to March 1991,[6] initially with Britten-Norman Islander aircraft, and two years later, de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters.

[4] In 1984, Isles of Scilly Skybus started flights to St Mary's from Land's End, initially freight and charter.

[9] In May 2013, the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company and the Council of the Isles of Scilly submitted a joint bid for finance from the European Regional Development Fund for improvements to the terminal, new lighting and navigational systems and runway resurfacing, together with runway resurfacing at Land's End Airport.

The airport is used as a landing area for some emergency services such as the HM Coastguard Search and Rescue Aircraft (based out of Newquay Airport) and the Cornwall Air Ambulance, as well as being the administrative base for the Isles of Scilly Fire and Rescue Service.

[12] A public footpath passes within a few metres of the southern end of the runway;[13] it is closed by warning lights and bells a few minutes before a take-off or landing is due.