Colonial era

Prior to the construction of the current airport, a small airstrip already existed in Banjarmasin, located in what is now Sungai Tabuk in Banjar Regency. The airstrip was built in the 1920s and was initially intended to serve the Koninklijke Nederlandsch-Indische Luchtvaart Maatschappij (KNILM), the national carrier of the Dutch East Indies. Its development was part of a broader plan to connect Banjarmasin with Java by air, through a route linking Surabaya – Banjarmasin– Hulu Sungai – Balikpapan, and vice versa. To support this initiative, KNILM began searching for a suitable site for an airfield that could be developed at relatively low cost, eventually identifying Sungai Tabuk as a viable location. As part of its promotional efforts, the airline enlisted the renowned French aviator Étienne Poulet to conduct demonstration flights over the Banjarmasin area. His aircraft landed on a sandy site at Sungai Tabuk, approximately 12 kilometres from Banjarmasin. Air services linking Java, Kalimantan, and surrounding regions were prioritized to accelerate regional development and attract tourists to the island. However, the Sungai Tabuk airfield was ultimately not utilized due to delays in securing operational approval for KNILM. A cooperation agreement between the Dutch East Indies government and KNILM was eventually reached on 24 October 1928, following the signing of an earlier agreement on 16 July 1928. For various reasons, the Sungai Tabuk site was subsequently abandoned, and plans for the airfield were relocated to Oelin.

Oelin Airfield was originally built in 1936 by the Dutch colonial government as a military base for the Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force (ML-KNIL). The first aircraft to land at the airfield was a KNILM-operated Douglas DC-2, arriving from Surabaya via Bandung. Following the outbreak of World War II and the occupation of the Netherlands by Nazi Germany, the airfield was upgraded in anticipation of a Japanese invasion, including the addition of three Lewis anti aircraft guns.

The airbase was considered a strategic target by the Japanese during the early stages of their 1942 invasion of the Dutch East Indies, as it was located just 420 kilometers from Surabaya. Its proximity made it a key objective in Japan’s plan to neutralize Allied air power in Java. The airfield sustained damage during the invasion and was subsequently captured by Japanese forces following the Battle of Banjarmasin on 10 February 1942 with very minimal resistance, as the defenders has mostly fled. The Dutch significantly damaged the airfield prior to withdrawing to Java, leaving it inoperable until 25 February. After being repaired by Japanese engineers, the airfield became a base of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service and was used as a staging point for operations in Java and Bali.

In 1944, the Japanese upgraded the airfield to support their military operations against the Allies. At that time, it featured a single runway measuring 2,220 meters in length and 45 meters in width. The airfield was raided by Allied aircraft throughout the remainder of the war. Nevertheless, the Japanese retained control of the base until their surrender in 1945, after which it was reclaimed by the returning Dutch authorities.

Following the return of Dutch forces to Banjarmasin, the Netherlands Indies Civil Administration (NICA) undertook minor renovations, including reinforcing the runway with a new 10-centimeter-thick foundation. During the Indonesian National Revolution, the area surrounding the airfield was heavily infiltrated by Indonesian guerrillas, prompting the Dutch to launch clearing operations. Some guerrillas also attempted to sabotage the airfield.

Independence era

After the Dutch departure following the transfer of sovereignty, the airport was transferred to the Indonesian government, which recognized its strategic value and began gradual development efforts. The airport was upgraded by the Indonesian government in the 1950s to meet international standards, enabling it to accommodate aircraft such as the Convair CV-240 family.

In 1970, the airfield was renamed Syamsudin Noor Airport, in honor of Syamsudin Noor—a revolutionary and Indonesian Air Force pilot from South Kalimantan who died in a crash on Mount Galunggung during a flight from Bandung to Tasikmalaya. His remains are interred at Cikutra Heroes Cemetery in Bandung. Between 1974 and 1977, the runway was extended to accommodate larger aircraft such as the Fokker F28 and the Douglas DC-9. Initially operating solely as an Indonesian Air Force base, the airport was officially designated for civilian use in 1975.

In 1992, the management of the airport was transferred to Angkasa Pura I, which was later rebranded as InJourney Airports. Following runway capacity upgrades in 1994, Syamsudin Noor Airport became capable of fully accommodating Boeing 737-300 aircraft. A subsequent runway extension, completed in 2003 by the South Kalimantan provincial government, further enhanced its operational capacity, allowing it to handle Boeing 767-300ER aircraft on a limited basis.