The airport is situated on National Highway 336, approximately 5 km (3.1 mi) south of the city center, and occupies 702.02 acres (284.10 ha).

The first known history of commercial flight landing at the airport dates back to 23 December 1936 when Tata Sons, Ltd. operated an Indo-Ceylon special airmail service between Madras and Colombo via Trichinopoly carrying Christmas mails connecting their regular airmail service between Karachi and Madras via Bhuj, Ahmedabad, Bombay, Hyderabad.

[8] This flight was a precursor for the extension of their regular Karachi-Madras Airmail service until Colombo via Trichinopoly, which began operations on 28 February 1938.

[10] During World War II, RAF Station Kajamalai was established at the airfield and used by the British Royal Air Force.

At the end of war the airfield served as Staging Post and Personnel Transit Centre due to its prominent location.

[17] On 3 December 1948, Air Ceylon inaugurated a regular weekly commercial service between Colombo and Karachi, using a Dakota flight via Tiruchirappalli and Bombay.

Beginning in the late 1950s, Tiruchirappalli was connected by domestic service with Madras, Madurai, Cochin and Trivandrum by Indian Airlines at different routings during different periods of time.

Starting from late 2000, the airport was connected with South East Asian destinations like Kuala Lumpur and Singapore by foreign airlines.

The original passenger terminal has been converted into an international cargo complex housing the control tower and technical block.

The terminal roof, flooring patterns, column cladding, feature walls and the signage design are inspired by local arts, culture and traditions.

[28] Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the construction of the new terminal through video conferencing from Tiruppur, on 10 February 2019.

[34] The Central Board of Excise and Customs had earlier approved and notified the airport as an air cargo complex.

Along with the new terminal project AAI has proposed to construct a new Category-II technical block cum air traffic control tower.

[47][48] The academy began its operations at the airport on 10 January 2020, where they have placed 6 training aircraft at the hangar, which was previously used by V.K.N.

The Government of Tamil Nadu has allocated two acres (0.81 ha) of its land adjacent to the airport for the club to set up its operational infrastructure.

The Phase II expansion on 210 ha (510 acres) by AAI includes extending the runway to 3,800 m (12,500 ft), construction of a modern, new Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, an additional building complex and other works.

[64] Due to the consistent increase in the air traffic, the existing integrated passenger terminal building became insufficient.

The MP of Trichy Mr. Durai Vaiko met the civil aviation minister on 1 July 2024 and demanded for faster action from AAI side to expand the runway as the local administration has nearly completed its land purchase scheme.

The AAI has expanded the existing apron with the construction of a third aerobridge and ramp equipment area, measuring 2,800 square metres (0.69 acres) at an estimated cost of ₹22.5 million (US$260,000), which became active in January 2019.

Frequent City buses run to the major bus and railway terminals of Tiruchirappalli, and to Thanjavur and Karur.