The first airfield in Juba was cleared in 1929. The Shell Company constructed the first runway in 1931. It was surfaced with crushed
laterite. In February 1931, Imperial Airways opened the first 2,670 miles of the weekly Croydon to
Tanganyika Territory (now part of Tanzania) portion of the Cape to Cairo air-route, and established a mooring place near
Rejaf to the south of Juba, for Imperial Airways' Calcutta flying-boats, which carried passengers between
Khartoum and
Kisumu. By 1976, the runway had been expanded to 2,400 by 45 meters and paved with asphalt. Access roads leading to the terminal buildings were unsurfaced and "almost impassable during the rainy season." The airport's "very old radio beacon" was located a short distance from the airport, which was also equipped with a weak VHF radio for pilot-to-ground communication. Field lighting was not present.
Airport expansion and country's independence , Juba International Airport was undergoing improvements and expansion. The work on the airport included expansion of the passenger and cargo terminal buildings, resurfacing of the runway and installation of runway lights to facilitate night operations. , the day of the country's independence, Juba International Airport had a new runway light system commissioned with simple approach lights for Runway 13/31, runway edge lights, taxiway lights for Exit Delta, Apron edge lights, illuminated windsocks, ATC tower rotating beacon as well as
PAPI for both approaches. In 2016, Juba International Airport was ranked the second worst airport in the world in a survey conducted by The Guide to Sleeping in Airports. It was the worst airport in 2017 and the fourth worst in 2019. During this time the terminal consisted of two adjacent tents to facilitate customs and immigration, arrivals and departures. A new, smaller terminal was built on the site of the original terminal by the Chinese. The new terminal was inaugurated on 29 October 2018. ==Facilities==