[4] By the end of the 1950s, Borneo Airways served the airport with a Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer aircraft, connecting Tawau to Lahad Datu, Sandakan and Jesselton.

[6] A new terminal, capable of accommodating regional aircraft such as the Fokker 27, was officially opened in 1968 by Malaysia's then Transport Minister, Tan Sri Haji Sardon.

[7] In the 1970s, the airport began offering international flights to Balikpapan and Tarakan via Bouraq Indonesian Airlines, with services operating three times a week.

While attempting a go-around, the aircraft crashed into an informal settlement in Kampung Seri Menanti, resulting in 34 fatalities, including two crew members.

Additionally, AirAsia had initiated flights to Singapore in 2010 and to Kuching in 2018, but both routes were subsequently discontinued due to insufficient passenger demand at those times.

This expansion was motivated by Tawau's proximity to major ecotourism attractions such as Tun Sakaran Marine Park, Mabul, Sipadan Island, Maliau Basin and Danum Valley in southeast Sabah.

[12] Additionally, Assafal P. Alian, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment of Sabah, proposed reinstating flights between Tawau and Makassar due to strong demand.

The expansion project, initially anticipated to commence by late 2019, was designed to address the increasing passenger traffic and enhance the overall airport experience.

Problems included insufficient immigration lanes, limited seating in the terminal, and inadequate aircraft bays during peak times, leading to congestion.

[22] In 2023, the state Minister of Tourism, YB Datuk Christina Liew said there's also proposal to have charter flights from Seoul in South Korea and Shanghai in China to Tawau.

[23][24] Previously, in June 2022, then-Sabah Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin suggested expanding direct flights between Changi Airport and Sabah's east coast towns, including Sandakan and Tawau, to Singapore's Senior Minister of State for National Development and Foreign Affairs, Sim Ann.

This initiative aimed to enhance tourism by promoting attractions such as Pulau Sipadan and the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre.

In October 2024, AirAsia announced plans to establish Tawau as its newest hub in Sabah, aiming to enhance direct international connectivity to North Asia with potential routes to Shanghai, Guangzhou and Taipei.

[30] By 2024, Tawau Airport hosted both chartered and seasonal scheduled flights to Chengdu–Tianfu, Nanjing, Guangzhou and Macau, operated by Firefly and Batik Air.