Construction of Fukuoka Airport began in 1944 (Showa 19) by the Imperial Japanese Army as the Sekita Airfield, but the following year, in 1945 (Showa 20), with the end of the war, it was immediately taken over by the US military, and since then it has been operated under US military control as the Itazuke Airfield.
A 2,800m runway was completed in April 1951. In October, the domestic civil aviation route Tokyo-Osaka-Fukuoka was opened, and in September 1965, the regular international route Fukuoka-Busan was opened. As Japan recovered from the war, the airport developed into a major route for a variety of domestic and international flights.
In this situation, the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee decided in December 1970 to transfer Itazuke Air Base to Japan, and in April 1972 it began operation as Fukuoka Airport, a Type 2 airport established and managed by the Minister of Transport. At the same time, it was designated as a designated airport under the Law Concerning the Prevention of Harm Caused by Aircraft Noise in the Vicinity of Public Airports.

As the number of passengers increased, Fukuoka Airport began operation of the old Terminal 2 Building (south of the current domestic passenger terminal building) in April 1974 (Showa 49), and the old Terminal 3 Building (north of the current Domestic Passenger Terminal Building) in April 1981 (Showa 56), and development has progressed to become an air hub for western Japan.
Furthermore, as cooperation with various transportation services was strengthened, Fukuoka City Subway began operating through the area, and Fukuoka Airport Station opened in March 1993.
The construction of the facilities continued thereafter, and International Passenger Terminal Building and cargo building began operation in May 1999. With the new International Passenger Terminal Building constructed on the west side of the runway, the building on the east side became a facility exclusively for domestic flights, and the passenger terminal buildings were split into east and west halves separated by the runway.

In June 2012, the Domestic Terminal Area Redevelopment Project (setback of terminal buildings, dual taxiways, etc.) began.
In June 2015, in response to further increases in air travel demand, the Fukuoka Airport Domestic Passenger Terminal Building Redevelopment Project began, and was completed in January 2020 after approximately five years of work.
In March 2016, it was designated as a "congested airport" under the Aviation Act.
In August 2018, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and Fukuoka International Airport Co.,Ltd. signed the "Fukuoka Airport Specific Operation Project and Public Facility Operation Rights Implementation Agreement."
The following April, 2019, Fukuoka Airport began operation by Fukuoka International Airport Co.,Ltd..
In March 2020, Nata Helipad was newly opened in Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City, strengthening its operational capabilities for both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
In March 2025, the additional runway (Runway B) began operation. In addition, International Passenger Terminal Building which had been undergoing expansion and renovation work, held its grand opening.

In December 2025 (Reiwa 7), the interior renovation of the existing area of International Passenger Terminal Building was completed, marking the completion of the expansion and renovation work that had been underway since May 2022 (Reiwa 4).

Additionally, construction is underway in preparation for the opening of the new domestic flight complex facility.
At Fukuoka Airport, it is our mission to become one of the best airports in all of Asia, by placing emphasis on safety and security, maintaing strong ties with the local community, expanding airline services and providing a full range of service to passengers.
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