In 2023, it was the sixth busiest airport in Taiwan, with scheduled services to China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, South Korea, and Vietnam.

The airport then expanded in 1954 according to the Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty, and later renamed Ching Chuan Kang Air Base (CCK) after General Qiu Qingquan.

It was the largest air force base in the Far East at the time, allowing Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers to land.

This base was shut down and most American facilities were removed after the U.S. established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 1979.

Construction of passenger facilities was completed in September 2003 and civilian services began on March 5, 2004, replacing the old Shuinan Airport located closer to downtown Taichung.