[1] Named after Franjo Tuđman, the first President of Croatia, the airport is located some 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Zagreb Central Station[2] in Velika Gorica.

It is the hub of the Croatian flag carrier Croatia Airlines and a focus city for Trade Air.

[citation needed] With the creation of the first Yugoslav flag carrier Aeroput in 1927, the airport was relocated to the Borongaj airfield in 1928 which began serving the ever-growing number of passengers on 15 February of that year.

Following World War II, commercial services were moved to a former military airbase near the village of Lučko south-west of the city in 1947.

[citation needed] For instance, it offered nonstop flights to New York City aboard McDonnell Douglas DC-10s.

Following an increase in passenger numbers and the necessity to upgrade its infrastructure, the airport installed a CAT-IIIb instrument landing system (ILS) in 2004.

[citation needed] That year the passenger terminal received a major facelift in the course of which a viewing platform with a bar was added.

[9] On 30 March 2021, Irish low-cost airline Ryanair announced the opening of a new base in Zagreb commencing July 2021.

[citation needed] The contract includes the financing, designing and construction of a new passenger terminal which was opened in March 2017.

[11][failed verification] It stretches over 65,800 m2 (708,000 sq ft) on three levels featuring four baggage carousels, 8 air bridges, 9 security checkpoints, 45 check-in desks, 23 passport control booths and a car park with the capacity of 1,250 vehicles.

Enough space has been left for 30 additional check-in counters and 2 baggage carousels to be added once the new terminal reaches its current maximum capacity of 5 million passengers.