The airport serves flights to and from several cities and towns in Indonesia and some international destinations such as Malaysia and Singapore.

In the first phase of development, the airport will have a terminal area of 130,000 square meters with a capacity of up to 15 million passengers per year.

The airport is designed to be resistant to earthquakes measuring up to 8.8 on the Richter magnitude scale as it was constructed in an earthquake-prone area, and will be equipped with tsunami mitigation facilities.

Dissemination of YIA development was carried out by the Regional Government and related Offices, PT Angkasa Pura I, and the National Land Agency (BPN) of Kulon Progo Regency in 2014.

The reason people rejected the planned YIA was the construction of the airport would eliminate the land that is the source of their livelihood as farmers.

[28] On 28 November 2017, the Chairperson of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia requested a delay in emptying residents land because they were conducting an investigation regarding the possibility of maladministration in the process.

[29] At the same time, the commission considers there are human rights violations that occurred and need not be done in emptying the land occupied by residents.

[30] At present DAMRI shuttle buses serve routes from YIA to Adisucipto International Airport, Wojo Station, Purworejo, Kebumen and Magelang.

Another bus service Satelqu serves routes from YIA to Adisutjipto International Airport, Cilacap and Purwokerto.