[13] On June 6, 2019, the airport unveiled its new logo, featuring "Ali's silhouette, arms up and victorious, against the background of a butterfly".

It was named for Dr. Elisha David Standiford, a local businessman and politician, who was active in transportation issues and owned part of the land.

The field remained under Army control until 1947, when it was turned over to the Louisville Air Board for commercial operations.

The airlines used World War II barracks on the east side of the field until May 25, 1950, when a proper terminal opened.

During the 1990s, Southwest Airlines began service to the airport which helped passenger boardings increase 97.3 percent.

[17] As of 2024[update], the airport is in the midst of a major renovation project called SDF Next, which includes more than $1 billion in planned enhancements to the Jerry E. Abramson Terminal, work on the baggage claim, updates to security and lighting, and changes to the rental car counters, among other improvements.

These concourses are connected by a rotunda and connector that contains a unified security checkpoint located in the main section of the terminal.

The westernmost runway (17R/35L) is the longest of the three at 11,887 feet (3,623 m) and was extended in 2007 to accommodate larger aircraft flying nonstop to destinations as far away as the Pacific Rim and Asia.

[21][22] Worldport is the worldwide air hub for UPS (United Parcel Service) located at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.

The facility is currently the size of 5.2 million square feet (48 ha; 80 football fields) and capable of handling 115 packages per second, or 416,000 per hour.

In May 2006, UPS announced that for the third time in seven years it would significantly expand its Worldport hub, with a second investment of $1 billion.

Additionally, several ramps at the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport were to be built or altered bringing a total increase of just over 3,000,000 square feet (280,000 m2).