Tokushima Aerodrome was constructed at the site of the former imperial navy’s airport by Ministry of Defense in 1958, further constructed as Tokushima Airbase of Maritime Self-Defense Force, and then designated as an airport for public use in 1961.
The necessity of maintenance increased in the private aviation area as private planes were used more often, and the service of terminal building was started in 1967. As the number of passengers increased steadily, thereafter, a construction of extending runway to 2,000 m was started in 1981 to handle large airplanes, etc. The service of the 2,000 m runway was started in 1987, thus realizing the full-scale service of apron/parallel guide path.
Following the start of full-scale services, Tokyo route increased steadily. An extension & consolidation project, including the extension of runway by 500 and the construction of a new terminal, was started in 1997, and completed in 2009, because increase of the sizes of airplanes in service is most effective to deal with the air transportation demands which are to increase from now on. Measures are taken to deal with the increase of air transportation demands by using the familiar name “Tokushima Awa Odori Airport.”