Since 16 December 1999 the airport has been named after Zumbi dos Palmares one of the pioneers of resistance to slavery in Brazil.

[6] However, on 16 December 1999 its name was changed to celebrate Zumbi dos Palmares (1645–1695) one of the pioneers of resistance to slavery in Brazil.

[5] The airport complex underwent major expansion in 2005, in which the new passenger terminal and the apron were renovated followed by the runway which was extended to 2,602 meters.

[7] On 13 July 2023, AENA inaugurated some modernization works at the airport, providing it with completely renovated spaces and large operational areas, new quality parameters in the management of all activities, from environmental and safety adaptations to expansions and restructuring of physical spaces.

[citation needed] Following is the number of passenger, aircraft and cargo movements at the airport, according to Infraero (2007-2019) and AENA (2020-2024) reports:[10][11][1] The airport is located 25 km (16 mi) from downtown Maceió.