[2] Concern was expressed in the Canadian Parliament as early as September 1939 for the security of the Dominion of Newfoundland (which was not yet a part of Canada) in the event of a German raid or attack.

[7] It was felt that a permanent airfield defense facility was needed and as a result discussions were carried out among Canada, Newfoundland and the United Kingdom during 1940.

[7] Early in 1941, Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King informed Newfoundland Governor Sir Humphrey T. Walwyn of the intended location in Torbay.

[7] At a cost of approximately $1.5 million, a pair of runways, taxiways, aprons, hangars and other facilities were built and in operation by the end of 1941.

[7] Later that month a British Overseas Airways Corporation B-24 Liberator en route from Prestwick, Scotland, to Gander, made the first sanctioned landing during a weather emergency.

[7] The US Military Air Transport Service (MATS) needed Torbay Airport in order to complete its assigned mission at that time.

Confusion was caused by the presence of American military personnel at a civilian airport operated by the Canadian government in a foreign country.

[7] The control tower constructed during the war burned down in an extensive fire on 16 March 1946, which caused $1.5 million worth of damage.

[7] The tower was equipped with radio navigation and landing aids including precision approach radar, non-directional beacon and VHF omni-directional range.

The facility remained RCAF Station Torbay until 1 April 1964, when it was returned to the jurisdiction of the Transport Department under the name St. John's Airport.

In the latter case this is a clearance to the VOR (VHF beacon) serving the region, which continues to be named Torbay on all official aeronautical charts.

Many Newfoundland residents, including the mayor of St. John's, decried the decision, leading Air Canada to resume the route seasonally in April 2007.

[17][18] In September 2007, Air Canada also ceased its London route, leaving Newfoundland without any flights to Europe for the first time since World War II.