With an estimated total cost of ($34.2 million), the 150-hectare airport hub is the result of a 50-year joint venture agreement between
Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) and Cagayan Land Property Development Corporation (CLPDC) with the private consortium contributing 58.3% in equity or while CEZA's share is 41.7% or . The airport was envisioned to be the international gateway in Northeast Luzon. Initially, it was constructed to serve the domestic flights to other airports in the country and international flights to Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and China. An aviation park and hangar hub was also envisioned for the airport where business and private jets can park. On June 23, 2016, the
Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) granted the airport new certification allowing it to handle aircraft with a capacity of up to 100 seats, up from only 29-seat capacity aircraft under the previous certification. The new certification has allowed the possibility of regular commercial flights to begin operation at the airport. At the time of the new certification, the airport has fielded around 168 flights ranging from tourism, diplomatic visits and emergency services. Meanwhile, the airport served its first two commercial flights with two planes from
Macau landing in the airport in March 2018. On April 3, 2023, the
United States Department of Defense (DoD) announced the airport as one of four new sites in the
Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, granting them access for "joint and combined training" between American and Philippine armed forces as well as facilitate a more efficient response to natural and humanitarian disasters. The U.S. DoD will work with the
Philippine Department of National Defense to "pursue modernization projects" at the new locations. ==Facilities==